Located in St. Johann in Tirol, Schönbichl is a new residential development that seeks to integrate architecture into the surrounding environment and enhance the spatial experience by allowing greenery, natural daylight, and panoramic views of nature to flow seamlessly throughout the built environment. The project replaces existing buildings while preserving approximately 60% of the site as green space, conceived as a semi-public park and private gardens. Positioned on a slightly elevated hill (‘Bichl’), the site’s exceptional gardens inspired the design and served as a guiding principle for the new development.

The development consists of three residential buildings housing 70 apartments, along with small office units. The buildings’ orientation and height are carefully designed to respect the context: they are positioned southward to maximize daylight and views of the Kitzbüheler Alps, their heights staggered to step down toward the south, and divided into smaller volumes to align with the scale and rhythm of the neighboring structures.

The architecture is defined by a load-bearing reinforced concrete exoskeleton with a bush-hammered surface, contrasted by a secondary wooden façade, creating a dynamic pattern of light and shadow through the dialogue between the two raw yet familiar materials. Large glass surfaces, all provided with textile sunshades for privacy and shading, extend the living spaces into the landscape while the use of ecological construction methods and natural energy sources allow the residents to enjoy a natural setting and an environmentally conscious lifestyle.