The carpenter and self-taught architect Rudolf Wäger was a formative member of the ‘Vorarlberg Building Artists’ and is considered one of the pioneers of modern Alpine architecture. The Mellau House is an early icon of this movement, which is formally rooted in the regional building tradition and at the same time established sustainable, social and affordable construction.
The house on the outskirts of Mellau was built in 1971 as an all-timber construction. The house has remained largely unchanged since then, although the windows, bathrooms and heating have been modernised.
The structure of the building is as calm and tranquil as the landscape, its uniform materiality broken up by horizontally planked, large sliding shutters. When the shutters are closed, the house harmonises with the surrounding stables and barns.
The interior continues to reflect the architect’s ideal — from the minimalist, functional room structure and furnishings to the clear shapes. The furniture was also designed and built by Wäger himself — supplemented over the decades with furniture from old forest houses.
One half of the semi-detached house is rented out as a holiday home and features a large living room with a corner bench and dining table next to the kitchen, a dark red fireplace with a bench around it, and a sofa opposite for sleeping or reading. Five unpretentious bedrooms, some with double beds, some with bunk beds, and two bathrooms offer space for up to ten guests and are particularly suitable for larger families or small groups.
Nestled in the hilly Vorarlberg countryside, the Mellauer Haus enjoys both wonderful tranquillity and proximity to the valley station of the Mellau-Damüls ski area, as well as to all mountain routes.
What to do
The house and the area offer a wide range of leisure activities in winter and summer: Skiing, winter hiking, tobogganing and cross-country skiing, hiking and mountain biking, climbing, swimming in the Mellau or Bezau swimming pools, fishing, golfing, reading by the fireplace, cultural programme with exhibitions and concerts, regional cuisine
Why we like this house
A testimony to Vorarlberg's building culture set against an impressive natural backdrop.
This house is great for
Families, friendly couples and groups of up to 10 people, exciting for lovers of stylish architecture and active holidaymakers
Sustainability
Public transport: Mellau is very easy to reach with the various regional bus routes. It is a 10-minute walk from the Mellau centre bus stop to the house.
Details
| Region | AT – Austria, Vorarlberg, Mellau |
| Name | Das Mellauer Haus |
| Scenery | On the edge of the village, surrounded by meadows |
| Number of guests | Max. 10 in 5 bedrooms |
| Completed | 1971 |
| Design | Rudolf Wäger |
| Architecture | Modern |
| Accomodation | Holiday home |
| Criteria | 8+ (house/apartment), Family, Garden, Golf, Hiking, Mountains, Skiing, No car needed |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.
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