Dezeen Magazine

Community Centre in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

The faceted buildings of this community centre look like meteorites that have landed in a rural village in southern Austria (+ slideshow).

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Designed by Austrian firm Machné Architekten, the building comprises timber and fibre cement-clad volumes that are angled to frame views of surrounding buildings.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

A glazed foyer connects the three main blocks at their centre and provides entrances to the departments contained inside, which include a town hall, a music centre and offices for the fire department.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Walls inside the building also feature faceted surfaces and there are no rectangular windows anywhere.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

We've featured a few projects in Austria this month, including a house for skateboarding inside and a chapel with skeletons in its basement.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

See all our stories about Austria »

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Here are a few more words from Machné Architekten:


Community Center in Abfaltersbach, Tyrol, Austria

The field and the stones

The new community center consists of three main parts (auditorium, music rehearsal room, town hall) and the fire department.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

The individual functions are as large "boulders" scattered on the site.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

These species were aligned along important edges (neighboring houses) and sightlines.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Those stones are connected by the foyer. The fire department serves as the basis of the "stones".

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Through these seperation of the building in the various areas the urban scale of the building fits very well into the existing structure.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

The spaces between the "stones" provide glimpses such as the view to the church.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

The use of the site and the positioning of the town hall on the street and the foyer to the north is creating two new squares.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

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The northern area of the building (foyer) goes over into the existing event space and in the south, a new place, which is flanked by the town hall and the fire department.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

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Internal Organization

By dividing the building into separate areas, it is possible to give each part its optimal form.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

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For example, both the auditorium and music rehearsal rooms are polygonal, for acoustic requirements.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

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At the same time, the shaping of the building as "stones" generates exciting architectural spaces.

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Click above for larger image

Community Center in Tyrol by Machné Architekten

Click above for larger image