On a recent trip to Italy, London-based writer and founding editor of Domestic Sluttery, Sian Meades, had the opportunity to visit Armin Blasbichler’s home in South Tyrol. Designed to look like the ubiquitous log stacks in local fields, Sian thought the home would be a perfect peek for Design*Sponge readers. Since she was the one to actually step through the doors, we’re going to let her take it away. Thanks, Sian! — Amy A.
Photography: Ingrid Heiss
Across South Tyrol in northern Italy, log stacks (or “musls,” as they’re known locally) sit in fields across the lush landscape. Ever since architect Armin Blasbichler was a child, he had the idea to build a house that looked just like the log stacks and let the home blend into the scenery that he had grown up with. The result is der Muslhaufen, which sits in Lüsen, not far from the Dolomites. — Sian
Image above: Armin lives with his wife and two young boys, and the design of the house is so playful. Doors covered in light switches to confuse visitors and doors within doors for the children to use; everything has a fun element to it. This door has little Pantone reference panels for every color they can see in the nature around them.
Image above: There are even doors on the ceiling!
The full sneak peek continues after the jump!
Image above: Throughout the house, Armin uses natural light and bright colours. Light shines through the gaps in the logs to make beautiful patterns throughout the house.
80 Comments
A new take on the log house! love it. lots of great ideas within.
This is the funnest house I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
This home is such a treat to read about! The whimsical touches make me smile. Such a creative use of light – that colored glass window just might be my favorite.
Armin’s house is amazing! I’ve been thinking about how awesome a modern log-cabin would be, and this one is so inspiring! I love how the light shines in through the gaps in the logs and that pantone window is incredible! The light shining through on the floor would make me happy every day! =)
Really cool unique space.. those doors remind me of alice in wonderland..
I absolutely love the doors! Just like Alice in Wonderland, (or Alice in Wonderfuland as I tellingly misspelled it before. Lovely photos too!
wow doesn’t even begin to cover this.
The color switches are a great addition to add some fun lighting effects, great idea! This home is gorgeous, and I love the element of play :)
Seriously amazing! Love all the fun details!
This house is the coolest crazy thing ever! I would love to see more pics of it to figure out how it is all laid out even more
Doors within doors?! That is just genius. Love it.
I am in LOVE with this house. The lighting to the bright colors. Clever use of objects to make the lighting, WANT my own Pantone door. I think this one is my favorite yet. Question about the picture that says VORRAUM, how was that done? Thanks.
this is amazing!
I love this house so much it is so fun and well lit. There is a new thing to marvel at around every corner and is definitely a space I would want to live in! I need to make my own color door somehow!
This is quite possibly the most incredible house I’ve seen you feature. I love the log stacks and the doors-within-doors. So whimsical and fun!
The most fun and unique house I have seen on your site…I love it!! xx meenal
This house makes me happy!
Oh wow! I love that pantone door too! I think i might even try something similar on some glass door panels that need some work. Thanks for the idea! What a wonderful house!
AMAZING!
I think this is the best Sneak Peek yet.
I love architects with a sense of humour! NZ’s Ian Athfield is another (here’s part 1 of a film on him: http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/architect-athfield-1977).
Are you kidding? This is the best house ever. Just let me know if you want me to come visit!
Wow..those doors. Reminds me of the Viktor & Rolf funhouse store a bit.
Wow! Loving that bathroom!!
Well, if they ever run out of heating fuel, they can at least start borrowing some logs from their pile. And the doors? I would have preferred old doors, which have such interesting detail.
one of the most unique and special home designs I’ve seen in a long time!!
this is awsome stuff. Love the originality, the colors and the concept.
So refreshing! Thanks for sharing such a happy, unique home!
I love every. single. bit.
As the daughter of two architects, I’m hesitant to say that this might be the best house I’ve ever seen… but it might be true.
My all time favorite sneak peak i’ve ever seen. This is just amazing.
oh my goodness i can “officially” say i have met my dream home! SIMPLY G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. wozers! i especially love the pantone door. how would one even attempt such a thing? if you have any suggestions that would absolutely make my day! :)
Found this video on YouTube about the house
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YoDXgLWT8Y
Loved seeing his toddler son interact with the house, it must be even more amazing seen through a child’s eyes.
the most incredible house!
I love love love the doors within the door – pure fun!
This house can only be described with one word: ridonkulous. I want to live here SO. BAD.
I love the front door! And the doors on the ceiling. And everything else of course.
The doors in this house make me giddy :)
I personally feel that this rather structure is devoid of human warmth and more “concept” than “home”, but to each his own. I found a video tour of the house plus an interview with the owner/architect, for those who are interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YoDXgLWT8Y
What a fascinating home. I would have liked to have seen more of that beautiful carved wooden bench.
The PANTONE door blows me away with COOL-NESS.
funny and amazing!!!
This house is amazing — more from Sian, please! That pantone door is just incredible. And the door of doors? So Willy Wonka I could cry.
It’s genius! I love it!
are you kidding? this is incredible!!!! my dream home before i even dreamed it.
Incredible house, love it! All the fun things in it make it marvelous.
Im in love – absolutely amazing!
Gorgeous house.. love the door..
Stunning. Love the thick sheepskin rug. Where’s that beauty from?!
This is amazing! I would definitely live there. My favorite is the door with all of the smaller doors, and of course the colorful door.
This is so awesome! I wish I could live there! I love the stained glass pantone door!
dear D*S, you make my mondays so much more bearable. thank you. love, krista
thanks krista ;)
g
Those slides that create a window are incredible. It makes me want to bring out my old slides and see if I can do something similar ……. on a smaller scale of course. I love those piles of logs too.
what a great place!
How gorgeous. I always love when architects design houses to flow into the specific environment and I’m touched that the reason for this choice is also based on a childhood love and connection to the landscape. Beautiful in thought and execution!
Wow, termites is all i can think, but i live in Australia so it would be something to consider prior to building! But wow all the same!
Beeeeeeeeeeeautiful, not only do the owners get to live in the Tyrol but in that house too! Lucky lucky lucky. how on earth could I recreate that pantone door? It is like a church for designers, a stained glass window. I am not sure what he has used to do this – can you do one of those DIY things on a door like that please D*S?
This house is amazing. I can’t get over the pantone reference door!
SJ, termites aren’t much of an issue in the European mountains. :-)
I like this house a lot, but I agree with Joseph that it seems more of a gimmick than a house which is actually inhabited. For this reason I enjoyed watching the video to which Gretchen and Joseph linked, because it shows a slice of everyday life in the house. I highly recommend watching the video if you want a proper appreciation for the place!
This house is so wonderful! The doors nearly made me cry I love them so much!!
This is more like it! True aesthetic-ism. The log ceiling in the bathroom is hot!!! More like this please!!!
This is definitely one of the most amazing homes I’ve ever seen! And I myself can’t see really any reason why one couldn’t live in a house like this. Too conseptual… not in my mind :)
AND I would love too to see a DIY instructions for that door, if you happen to have any…!
Amazingly cool home. Is that a pull out baby crib in the dining room area? And what’s the scientific significance of the art/light installation in the bathroom? Fascinating house.
Just another way the USA is being left behind!!
Ingenious this may be, but it’s not so unusual in Europe.
Their whole idea of life and living is to move forward, preserving the past but making sure their IS a future for our world. In the states all we seem to do is bicker and hold up progress with the meaningless Historical ( read hysterical ) Societies, absurd policies and a very antiquated ideas of Mc Mansions, ( yes these energy hogs are still popping up everywhere!!- crying now :(
Have we have learned nothing ..we head down the road of Caesar. ( I exclude Portland oregon in this- they’re like a mini Europe in America ).
Our greed, lack of education and innovation and actually producing stuff will sooner ( not later ) see us loose our beautiful land to ..well maybe I better stop.
Stunning home!
Wow, so many comments! I’m so pleased you guys like the house. It’s a really amazing space, and given the design features, it’s still homely. The focus is very much on playing, and the kids (and indeed adults) having fun. The way the house incorporates family values shows real warmth to me – the house is built on a plot of land that has been in the family for generations, and the mailboxes outside are for every single member of the family past and present.
As for the termites and heating issues – the house is deceptive and is actually made of glass. The logs are over the top of it!
So c-o-o-l and beeeutiful at the same time THANK You
now off to that video!
This house is so unique! I love the doors, the natural light and shadow and all the materials!
Superb place! The interior walls are slightly too rough, for me.
This house is a lab and has much to consider. Lots of wonderful ideas; the pantone door, doors within doors , the consideration of the joining of two different homes, just the location! Thanks Joseph and Gretchen for the video. It helps to explain the intention behind the design. Thank you Design Sponge for showing more inspiring ideas from around the world !
I recently purchased a little art plaque that instructs: “Live Inside Your Heaven” — this wonderful home seems to have been created with that in mind. It is not only beautiful and surprising and fun to look at, it must be the creator’s vision of paradise for himself and his family. Mailboxes for all the family members both past and present? How fantastic. Best of all, this post has inspired me to think of ways to lovingly create more little pockets of ‘heaven’ for all of us right here in my own home. It all starts with a vision and a sense of magic, which this visionary architect certainly has.
wow, so fresh and magical. The shutters acting as skylights blew me away!
What a wild, magical space! It’s serene, and playful….I love every inch of it. Especially the crazy doors. Thanks for the ‘peek’. :^)
Heidi
I’m in love.
Wow~ Love it!
I want a pantone door! The light filters beautifully!
design of this house looks so natural.
I really like that design ..
hehe..
Cut a tree, build a home! Great imagination.
I’d like to know the source of the silver butcher block topped kitchen drawer units. Amazing home. Love the pantone door. Beautiful.
Oh Sian! If only we could all play this much! So warm and thoughtful. You are leaving a family legacy of home. I can hear the delightful giggles of your children here. I really can! And that, to me, says it all. THanks D*S.
hahahaha! what a CRAZY house! i love it!!!
Just goes to show spaces can be seriously beautiful when you don’t take yourself so seriously. This home makes me chuckle.
What a beautiful place. The Pantone stained glass-esque door is the so brilliant and beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever been jealous of a door before.
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