Thanks to the natural building method and the choice of materials, the house is integrated perfectly into its wine-terrace surroundings. Image: © STEINBAUER architektur+design | 01_AVOS_Exterior_View

Sustainability meets design in Austria’s Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf municipality: Surrounded by grapevines and set on a sloping plot of around 1,600 sq m is a detached house in harmony with nature. Sustainable building methods are demonstrated throughout the light-filled, open-plan house all the way through to the bathroom – including a Kaldewei Conoduo bathtub.

The distinctive and nature-loving architecture is in evidence outside, in the form of the charred larch cladding used on the façade. The bathroom is where, in keeping with the overall eco-friendly concept, architect Oliver Steinbauer, owner of the firm Steinbauer architektur+design in Vienna’s Neustadt, installed a Kaldewei Conoduo bathtub made from sustainable steel enamel. Thanks to its natural raw materials, steel enamel is 100% recyclable and exceptionally long-lasting.

Image: © STEINBAUER architektur+design | 02_AVOS_Living_Area_exterior_view

A home as a stylishly designed sustainable building

The lower levels inside the newbuild 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, these 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,” said Oliver Steinbauer.

Image: © STEINBAUER architektur+design | 05_Kaldewei_Conoduo

The client wanted elegance and eco-friendliness everywhere, including the bathroom

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 north-west.

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,” said 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 waste outlet 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 aesthetic.

The home’s owners can thus enjoy a relaxing bath while feeling that they are sitting in the middle of a wine terrace. This superbly soothing setting make this the perfect spot for them to savour a fine wine made from their own grapes.