House G

Haus G provides answers to the questions of our time.

A single-family house in the countryside is being transformed into a multi-generational home with three residential units. The existing structure is extended by two additional timber-framed floors, insulated with straw bales and finished with clay plaster—much of it built through hands-on participation.

In the hills of the Obersalzberg near Bad Dürrnberg, this project explores many of today’s key themes in architecture: rural living, densification, multi-generational housing, regional identity, natural building materials, affordability, and self-build.

The original solid-masonry house is converted into a three-unit multi-generational home. The existing structure is renovated, a dilapidated section is rebuilt, and the entire building extended upwards by two additional floors. A high level of self-build involvement makes this a dynamic, ongoing process. The replacement structure is built in solid masonry, with windows reused from the demolished section. The two new timber-framed storeys are insulated with straw bales, finished inside with local clay plaster and outside with lime render (NHL 5)—both applied by hand. This method not only ensures energy efficiency but also creates a healthy, comfortable indoor climate, while making use of local resources, craftspeople, and community participation.

At its core, the project emphasises community: the three housing units share a communal kitchen, serving as the social heart of the building. Built from local wood and clay, it is seamlessly connected with the new extension.

The result is an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable project that combines traditional values—such as intergenerational living and regional rootedness—with forward-looking innovation and environmental awareness.