Meander House
Graz. Austria . Boarding House
The task of designing a boarding house for musicians, including wellness and public spaces like a restaurant and a multifunctional event pace asks for a solution, which is both - straight in concept but also different and complex in its appearance. The site of the former Kommod House is marked by Gründerzeit buildings and typical architecture of the inner city. Facing north, the site isn’t exposed to the sun a lot, but the proximity to the opera of Graz, the Künstlerhaus and the Stadtpark makes it an interesting spot, which is passed frequently.
The ongoing movement, which will happen in this house is represented by the vertical and twisted wooden Lamina Structure. Connecting the different floors and therefore the different movements and activities that are ongoing in the house, it is also framing public and private spaces. Depending on the gap between the laminas, they create walls, windows and doors at the same time.
Two floors with Apartments and one floor with two suites can only be accessed by the guest themselves, and have their private balconies as well. The public ground floor has its own entrance and is opened to the courtyard, giving the restaurant a nice outside area for hot summer days. In the ground floor the wavy shape leads people towards the restaurant, passing the show kitchen or directly to the basement, where the concert hall/ multifunctional room is located.
Moving downstairs one has the possibility to directly enter the gallery of the concert hall, or go on to the main entrance. The hall itself is simple in it’s appearance. The laminas and the gaps between them create different light situations, that can be adapted for various events. The slightly cone shape results in great acoustics for different types of music. Named Mutkatalo, finnish for "curve house", the wooden wave gently divides public and more private spaces, letting glimpses of thought views through and guides the sunlight.
