Kiosk on Staufensee near Dornbirn

From certain angles this structure – located near Dornbirn, in Austria’s westernmost province – appears to be solid to the core. The kiosk, “cast” in coarse, watertight reinforced concrete, is situated in a dramatic, pristine setting between a lake and a ravine, on a flat site along a mountain stream between the landforms known as Rappenloch and Alploch. The diminutive structure, only 7.10 x 3.60 m, supplies -hikers and climbers with refreshments and a place to rest. The monolithic building massing is clear-cut, an elementary shape recalling the primitive hut. The edges appear sharp; the silhouette contrasts clearly with the woods behind it. From the exterior, no detailing is evident. The entrance and the large, hinged shutter are flush with the concrete. They are both made of rough-sawn silver fir and correspond to the concrete’s raw, sand-blasted surface, which bears the imprint of the boards used in the formwork. A strip window on the southwest side, with silver-fir grill flush with the facade, directs daylight into the kiosk. With the passage of time, the silver-fir facade elements will turn grey, and their colour tone will increasingly resemble that of the concrete. When the weather is good, the raised shutter – its black, lacquered inner surface advertises the refreshments and their prices – signals that the kiosk is open. As in a conventional house, a “parlour” has been inserted into this solid, stone-like structure. The exterior is characterised by the archaic effect of the formwork, as well as its roughness, contrasting with the interior’s materiality and warm colour spectrum, particularly the reddish-brown formwork sheets and the black, sealed concrete floor. In addition to the shop, which is furnished with a counter and bespoke shelving, there are a bathroom and minimal accommodations: in the auxiliary area, beneath the ridge, there is an upper level which can be accessed with a simple ladder. This area can be used for taking breaks, as well as to spend the night – in case the owner doesn’t feel inclined to make the trip down to the valley, or, in other words, back to civilisation.