ArchitekturAtelier AG

Before its renovation, the former house on Äulestrasse was in a condition that was no longer contemporary or lettable. Thanks to its good accessibility by private and public transport and its central location in the immediate vicinity of many banks of the Liechtenstein Bankers Association, the property is ideal for use as a crèche for the Liechtenstein Bankers Association. The part of the building facing Äulestrasse, dating from 1896, has the typical sequence of small rooms. The group rooms are housed in the western part of the building. The attic is being converted into a movement room and can be used as a third group room. The lost attic space in the old building has also been made accessible again and is intended to serve the children as a painting studio or play corner. In the smaller rooms of the old building the old herringbone parquet was restored and, where necessary, supplemented with new parquet. In order to preserve the character and outward appearance towards Äulestrasse, the old building was insulated on the inside of the facades, leaving the timber framing visible. A small but varied children's playground was created at the rear of the building. In view of the qualities inherent in such an old building, and in the interest of sustainable development, the hurdles of a conversion were gladly accepted.

The area along Wuhrstrasse has grown strongly in recent years and has been significantly enhanced. In the immediate vicinity of the motorway junction, the next step towards a positive future was taken with the building authority of the municipality of Vaduz and the integration of the Liechtenstein Red Cross. The design is decisively determined by the three different uses – building authority, public works depot and Liechtenstein Red Cross – and is layered horizontally into three groups of spaces stacked on top of one another. At the top are the general administrative premises. They are the protective roof of the extra-high public works depot below. Likewise on the ground floor, at the level of Wuhrstrasse, are the LRK's emergency vehicles. All three areas of use function autonomously and are well served on all floors by the two central staircases. Three light courts inside the building ensure optimal and varied lighting of the rooms. Each court is designed differently and worked out according to its position. The compact construction and the deliberate grouping and arrangement of heated, low-temperature and unheated temperature zones in the building contribute significantly to the building's energy efficiency.

On the east side of the Alvier massif, a single-family house in exposed concrete construction was built on a steep slope. The narrow but long plot on the steeply falling Wingerthalde called for a spatial organisation on different levels, offset from one another, in order to connect with the slope in different ways. To do justice to the location and to create a small but high-quality outdoor space, an inner courtyard enclosed on three sides was integrated into the building. The building is accessed from the street to the west and develops down the slope. Despite its narrow floor plan, it stands confidently on the slope and opens up views of the Rhine valley and the Drei Schwestern massif opposite. With the chosen facade materials of concrete and glass, the building's architectural appearance is both restrained and appropriate. The external sun protection of fine fabric blinds and the projecting overhang running around the east side protect the large glazed areas from overheating. A suspended timber slatted ceiling, seamless floor coverings in the main rooms and timber floors in the bedrooms round off the material concept. The use of sustainable building materials such as timber and clay contributes to ecological, environmentally friendly construction.