The latest architectural work by Pichler, the ‘House beside the Smithy’ in the Eggental Valley in South Tyrol, was conceived as a home for the artist’s cousin near his grandfather Eugen Pichler’s old blacksmith’s workshop. Apart from the original building, the house relates only to the natural surroundings

The watercolor foundation scheme and the longitudinal section of the kitchen © Sammlung Architekturzentrum Wien

The plan and cross-section, reveal the project’s simplicity. The house stands on two floors and totals 56 square metres. A peripheral shaft, protected by rocks from the river, illuminates the cellar © W.P.

Walter Pichler, Träumer, 2002

Pichler’s traditional themes – water and other natural elements – recur in this work. The sole exception is the use of steel for the gable roof. Resting against an outer wall are a masonry basin, which collects water channelled from the roof, and a chimney.

Views of the living area

Even the chair was made to the artist’s design