Schuppen & Schuppen

Two sheds are being developed in Steinberg-Dörfl, Burgenland – a twin structure serving both art and agriculture. 

A shed is a simple structure for storing various materials, equipment and goods, protecting them from the elements. 

Both sheds look nearly identical from the outside. It is only through approaching, entering and experiencing their “bodies” that they become perceivable and usable in different ways. 

Nutrition, which is what agriculture is all about, and art are the fundamental aspects of human existence. It is impossible to envision a human without art or nutrition.

Art as a human-made construct, shaped by perfection and different forms of expression, stands in contrast to our connection with nature as a source of nourishment – even when that nature itself may be artificially created. This connection did not arise from a fundamental concept, but rather from the existing conditions and the necessities. 

The agricultural building is providing residents in the surrounding area with the opportunity to grow their own food and self-supply. “Cultivation plots” for communal use act as an alternative to house gardens, fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens. 

High-quality architecture for sustainable infrastructure deserves to be seen!

One of the energy-independent sheds combines both functional and representative roles, while the other one is dedicated to creativity. The wish to provide a space, where art is loved, is fulfilled. The fact that the two sheds stand facing one another is best interpreted as a symbiotic coincidence.

The wooden structure of each shed spans an area of ​​210 m² without intermediate supports and follows the principles of the so-called Zollinger system. All elements are prefabricated and assembled on site, using a modular system — two identical structures, though one is open at the top. The outer shell consists of shingles made of recycled plastic panels.

One of the two “twins” contains a room-within-a-room, designed as a wooden box, while the other – a delicate residential tower, reserved for temporary stay and sanitary needs.

On one hand, the project represents a high-quality and sustainable approach to supplying residents with goods. Nourishing is a cultural act and we create a space for it. Art, on the other hand, is also understood as a cultural act and a cultural asset per se. Yet here, the question of quality and quantity remains open for interpretation.