Set within the alpine landscape of Kitzbühel, this new-build residence began with an unusual ambition: to combine the elemental character of a mountain barn with the refinement and elegance of a Parisian apartment.

Unlike many of our projects, Mountain Elegance was conceived with us from the very beginning. This allowed the interior architecture to evolve in parallel with the building itself, rather than responding to an already defined architectural framework.

Our involvement extended beyond the interiors of both houses. We developed detailed design concepts for elements of the façades, entrances, gates and garden, while defining materials and architectural details across interior and exterior spaces. The aim was to create one coherent design language — from the approach to the property to the smallest detail within the rooms.

Materials were chosen for their authenticity and their relationship with the alpine setting. Exposed concrete, smoked oak, charred timber and bronzed steel introduce depth and tactility while allowing the architecture to remain calm and restrained. Many elements were developed specifically for the project and realised in close collaboration with local craftsmen.

The complexity of the project lay not only in its scale and level of detail, but also in the number of people and disciplines involved. Throughout the process, we coordinated closely with the clients, architect, contractor and specialist teams, aligning architectural decisions, materials and technical requirements as the buildings developed.

Distance — intensified by the restrictions of the pandemic — made a conventional planning process impossible. Our digital planning methodology became an essential part of the project. Design development and technical information were brought together in a shared digital environment, giving all parties access to the current planning status and allowing even highly complex questions to be discussed and resolved on a common basis.

This continuous exchange proved particularly valuable as design decisions evolved across architecture, interiors and exterior spaces. Rather than separating these disciplines, the process allowed them to inform one another from the beginning.

The result is a residence in which architecture, interior and landscape feel inseparable. What appears calm and natural is the outcome of an intensely collaborative process — carried from the earliest stages of the new build through to its architectural details and material expression.