AVOS residential building: a sustainable home with a Kaldewei enamelled steel bathroom solution

Sustainability meets design in Austria’s Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf municipality. Surrounded by grapevines and set on a sloping plot of around 1600 square metres is this detached house in harmony with nature. The distinctive and nature-loving architecture is evident outside in the form of the charred larch cladding used on the facade. Sustainable building methods are demonstrated throughout the light-filled, open-plan house all the way through to the bathroom. This is where, in keeping with the overall eco-friendly concept, architect Oliver Steinbauer, owner of the firm STEINBAUER architektur+design in Wiener Neustadt, installed a Kaldewei Conoduo bathtub made with sustainable steels for enamelling from ArcelorMittal. Thanks to its natural raw materials, steel enamel is 100% recyclable and exceptionally long-lasting. ArcelorMittal's range of steels for enamelling fully meets modern-day expectations in terms of durability, iconic aesthetics, hygiene, and respect for the environment.

Detailed information

A stylishly designed sustainable building makes a home

The lower levels inside the new-build family home are dominated by sandblasted concrete ceilings, steel, exposed screed, and large windows. The private rooms feature white Corian, naturally oiled oak, and discreet east-facing light slits. All of the built-in furnishings have been crafted from brushed wild oak, which are combined with individual pieces made of Engelsberg marble from the nearby quarry. The wine cellar is another design highlight, sunk deep into the earth for optimum temperature control.

“Because the plot is a vineyard that has been family-owned for generations, creating a building that was timeless and in harmony with nature was paramount right from the start,” says architect Oliver Steinbauer.

Sustainability meets design

The bathroom is located on a mezzanine floor. At its heart is the sunken Conoduo bathtub from Kaldewei which has a framed view towards the Engelsberg mountain to the northwest. Here too, the focus on eco-friendly building methods is evident from the material used for the bathtub. The Conoduo is made of Kaldewei steel enamel, an exquisite symbiosis of steel and glass. Steel enamel is manufactured by Kaldewei from natural raw materials. At the end of its useful life, it can be fully recycled. The glazed surface of the bathtub is extremely robust, hygienic, and easy to clean. Kaldewei backs up its exceptional longevity with a 30-year guarantee. “The steel enamel bathtub goes perfectly with the open but varied spatial layout and the property’s reduced natural materiality,” says Oliver Steinbauer.

The design of the bathtub fits seamlessly into this home. Conoduo’s hallmarks are its minimalist design and timeless elegance – rounded off by a flat drain and a discreet overflow, both enamelled in the same colour as the bathtub. This allows the bathtub, in keeping with the property overall, to meet the highest standards of design and aesthetics. The home’s owners can thus enjoy a relaxing bath while feeling that they are sitting in the middle of a vineyard. This superbly soothing setting make this the perfect spot for them to savour a glass of the fine wine made from their own grapes.

Technical details

  • Plot area: 1600 m²
  • Living area: 150 m²
  • Useable area: 35 m²
  • Built area: 98 m²
  • Planning period: 2012–2017
  • Construction period: 2017–2018
  • Style of construction: tile, steel skeleton
  • Facade: charred larch
  • Roof: flat roof with black gravel
  • Ceiling height: 2.5m to 4.2m thanks to split levels
  • Ceilings: sandblasted concrete dropped ceiling
  • Floors: exposed screed, brushed wild oak
  • Heating: air-source heat pump
  • Bathtub: KALDEWEI Conoduo made of steel enamel

Project information

  • Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf
  • Austria
  • 2017-2018
  • Architect:
    Oliver Steinbauer, STEINBAUER architektur+design
  • Owner:
    Private
  • Text:
    Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co. KG
    Constructalia
  • Photos:
    ©KALDEWEI / STEINBAUER architektur+design