The Ecology of Brutalism in Interior Design
Brutalism in interior design is an aesthetic that embraces raw, unrefined materials, minimal ornamentation, and a bold, monolithic presence. It takes inspiration from the Brutalist architectural movement of the mid 20th century, which prioritized functionality and exposed structural elements.
Characteristics of Brutalism in Interior Design
- Raw Materials: Concrete brick, unfinished wood, and metal
- Minimalism: Spaces are stripped down to their essentials, avoiding unnecessary decoration.
- Monolithic Forms: Furniture is either built in or has a sculptural quality.
- Muted & Monochromatic Palette: Shades of gray create a stark yet cohesive look.
- Industrial Elements: Exposed concrete, steel beams and large glass panels are common.
While traditionally perceived as cold or harsh, modern Brutalist interiors often incorporate warm lighting, textiles, and natural elements to soften the aesthetic. The result is surprisingly more livable and inviting. We witness Brutalism in interior design more and more in unique, one-of-a-kind accommodation projects. The minimalism leaves space for events, special moments, to take place and fill up the spaces.
Boutique Hotels: A Premise for Brutalism in Interior Design
Is it worth going all in on building accommodation?
The idea of passive income is becoming more and more prevalent, especially post-COVID. People understood the true instability of the economy and, ultimately, of their jobs.
More and more young professionals with disposable incomes flirt with the idea of getting into the hospitality industry as a side hustle. They either consider opening a coffee shop, a restaurant, or something bigger. They seek out unique plots of land in order to develop cabins, tiny homes, boutique hotels which they can rent out when they are not using.
Is this income really passive, though? This article studies not only construction but also marketing and maintenance of a small boutique hotel in the Austrian Alps.
Example of Brutalism in Interior Design: Haus und Hof
In Hof bei Salzburg, Austria, a couple of non-designers built a very unique vacation rental. She is an accountant, he is a psychologist. They’ve completed the project during the summer of 2020, on a plot next to their home. The project is called Haus und Hof. The building consists of 3 levels, one apartment on each floor.
This isn’t your typical Austrian mountain home. Instead of a quaint wooden cabin, resting on the side of a hill, with a sloped roof and a smoking chimney, these homes are unusual. The entire structure is buried into a hill, with wide terraces and inner courtyards dug out of the constructed mass. Walls are either completely opaque, without any windows, or in full glass, from top to bottom.
How to Implement Brutalism in Interior Design
The style is minimalistic, even brutalist, because of the heavy use of exposed concrete.The floor is polished microcement. The walls and ceilings are all painted black. There is very little furniture. It’s either encapsulated in the walls with large surfaces of oak wood, or consists of singular statement pieces.
As I’m writing this, laying down on a gray textile, single arm Prostoria couch, I can spot a thin, black, metal Flos floor lamp in the corner. On the opposite side of the living room, facing a full glass wall there is a black Magis Bureaurama home desk set. Also from Magis, a Spun rotating chair sits quietly in the concrete courtyard. The key ring is from Hay Design.
They could’ve gone with Ikea but they chose not to. I respect that.
I checked their guestbook and figured the occupation rate ranges between 20% and 80% per month, depending on the time of the year. They don’t go hard on advertising on booking platforms, as they have an ideal customer avatar in mind. This is reflected by their price point: not too low, not too high. Their project is present in many architecture books and magazines.
Some would say it’s a good investment to build three extra apartments for short term rental on your own plot. Others would say the position isn’t great – Hof bei Salzburg is a 1.5hr drive away from proper ski slopes.
Interview with the Owner of Haus und Hof
In order to get to the bottom of all these matters regarding both ecological and financial sustainability, we sat down with Magdalena, owner and operator of Haus und Hof Boutique Hotel in Hof bei Salzburg.
Design Phase and Building Permits
How did this project come into fruition?
My uncle was the architect. We were looking for a plot for me and my parents. It was very hard. We eventually found this. My husband was working at the Gemeinde and we asked if there were any plots available. Everyone said there is nothing to buy. Then we found a big plot with an old house built on it. The plot was huge. It was also very beautiful. It was close to the lake, surrounded by a forest, with a good school nearby and amenities for our older parents. We called my uncle to come and see the plot. It’s his thing to build in the mountains. When he came, he told us he needed to spend an hour or two alone on the plot and think about it. After spending an hour alone on the empty plot he said: ‘Yeah, buy it. I know exactly what we’re gonna do.’
The plot actually houses not one, not two but three buildings: The Haus und Hof Boutique Hotel, Magdalena’s home for her husband and children and her parents’ home.
Was it difficult to obtain permits for such a unique structure?
The building permits weren’t hard to get because the people who lived here had wanted to sell it for so many years. There were many developers that wanted to build high rises on this large plot, ultimately compromising the entire surroundings. And so the mayor was happy with our proposal. However, the difficult thing is being allowed to rent out for tourists. Here, there are special permits you need for short term rentals.
How did you make the decision to build accommodations next to your own home?
My uncle and aunt were already renting a vacation home in the countryside of Salzburg. We learned, through this experience, that it is difficult to maintain. You have to be present. For this project, it just happened. I can’t describe it. Things just naturally fell into place. Yeah, we already had the kids and so we needed the space. But I would’ve never decided it on purpose.
Tell us about your experience in hospitality.
I had previously worked in the hospitality industry for 7 years, for a huge hostel. What I learned then was that it’s important to be close to your guests. I want them to feel at home. When they need something, I don’t want to have to drive for 30 minutes to take care of it. I am here, present on the property most of the time because I started working from home two years ago anyway. Proximity is important. For the maintenance, my father also helps out.
Project Finances
Let’s talk finances. How was this funded?
My background in accounting helped. We were dealing with huge numbers that, for some, could be intimidating. I wasn’t afraid because I was used to it. I did accounting for some very big companies. Of course, I’m responsible for all the financial stuff. Still, during construction, I got burnt out. We had contracted a lot of companies from Germany to start construction but many didn’t even show up.
Did you bring your personal savings into the project?
No, we had no money. The starting capital came from loans. I have two business partners: my uncle and my former boss in the tax consultancy business. You need special partners you can trust. They act as shareholders, I am responsible for all the operations.
What about state funding?
We didn’t get any help from the state. There are no funds for tourism projects because Austria is already big on tourists. In fact, many villages have become large scale hotels run by old families who have been in this business for generations. Salzburg is becoming more of a neoliberal city as well – a home for short term rental properties. No one wants to live there anymore.
Local public policies become obvious when you look into taxation and budget allocations. The Salzburg municipality charges a tourist tax of 3.5 eur/person/night. Furthermore, public transportation is not as widely available in this region because Austria is a car country. This prioritisation of tourism amenities and car ownership over shared infrastructure for the locals help us paint a picture on how the ideal Austrian looks like, for the government. We call this a neoliberal city.
Construction Phase
Tell me about the experience with construction.
We bought the plot at the end of 2017 and started construction in February 2019. My husband and I moved in during October of 2019 because the kids were starting school. My parents moved in during December of the same year.
We were forced to take a break from construction because of COVID. During that time, we encountered so many problems with the construction companies. They simply didn’t do the things. They didn’t do them on time. We had to change so many construction companies. This ultimately affected our building schedules. Many times, we had to dismantle and redo parts of the construction that were done improperly. This, of course, caused many problems in cash flow. The builders didn’t do what they had to do and so we didn’t want to pay. It was stressful in many ways.
We managed to finish before the end of COVID travel restriction. We were lucky enough to finalize construction right before prices for materials like wood just skyrocketed.
Maintenance and Upkeep
How difficult is it to upkeep a place like this?
When you own and operate something like this, you never can afford vacations. If you really want a place like this, you have to build high quality. In this project, every piece is special and for every piece I needed like 3 weeks to decide.
This property appears in many books and magazines on design and construction innovation. Can you tell me a little more about that?
The unique interior design pieces are, of course, expensive. We had a general idea about the design and we hired a company that helped us develop it further. They helped us with the general concept, the color concept for each of the apartments, as well as supplying our furniture.
As a construction innovation, we use geothermal energy for heating and cooling as much as we can. We have something new and unique here regarding all electricity. We have a local energy community made up of producers, consumers and prosumers. The energy community is established as an association. It is managed by myself and some other members of the local community. The way it works is we have contracts between ourselves and with the general grid operator. If I consume more electricity than is produced locally, I get it from the grid.
Is it more energy efficient to build underground?
No, not really. During wintertime, consumption is the same for both underground and surface level rooms. During summertime you can, however, feel a difference. You need less air conditioning for rooms that are buried underground. And yes, we also can notice the climate getting warmer.
Is your business seasonal?
Summer is best because there’s lots of things to do out in nature. Most people come between May and October. And of course for Christmas and New Year’s. We see lower occupancy from January through May. During summer months, we have guests who drive through Europe a lot. As guests we have older German couples of ages around 60 to 70. We also have young designers and architects as well. Our flats are pretty large. They can easily accommodate 4 to 12 people. They also have large outdoor terraces. This makes a perfect venue for more intimate events such as bachelor parties. Because of the unique design, we host photo shoots for all types of brands, including Porsche who comes once or twice every year. Each parking space is equipped with an EV charger.
Conclusion
When it comes to income, the hospitality sector is not a passive one. It requires cash upfront, trustworthy partners and time and attention. People build these things out of passion, not to get rich. In order for your project to be successful, you must invest your most valuable asset: yourself.
If you’d also like to meet Magdalena, or just have a lovely stay in this Brutalist Alpine home, check out her website.
