Living Green

A graveled road winds through a lush Alpine pine forest before a handcrafted wooden fence, made according to all rules of the art, leads along a larch-tree-lined avenue, framing stunning views and the small hamlet of Rappersbühl. Self-contained and almost entirely energy self-sufficient, Rappersbühl is not only a prime example of a modern farm, but it is also a private home and guesthouse. Situated on a hill (=Bühl) amidst Alpine nature on the sunny Ritten high-plateau, in the Italian region of Alto Adige, Rappersbühl is a true father-daughter soul project. Heiner Oberrauch, one of the most successful local entrepreneurs, and his creative and visionary daughter Maria, have realized their dream project which mirrors their shared passion for nature, agriculture, hospitality, and the cultivated, simple, and healthy life.

This architectural gem was designed by architect studio BergmeisterWolf and is shared by its owners with their family, friends, lodging visitors, and their animals. It consists of three volumes, including the private house of Maria Oberrauch, the guesthouse that is shared with the farmer’s home, and the largest volume that contains the stable. Cows, goats, and sheep graze on the meadows surrounding the property’s grain fields and on the grass-covered roof of the central building, while chickens peck in the orchard and vegetable garden, and fish and frogs swim in the nearby pond alongside the children. Despite his professional career, Heiner’s connection to the earth and nature was nourished since childhood as he himself grew up on a farm. “My soul thrives when being in nature,” he says. Growing up on a farm, then moving to the city, his dream of building a self-sufficient farm in the third phase of his life was a long-lived craze. Maria, on the other hand, always loved the location of Rappersbühl, where she spent much of her childhood summers. “Like my father, I feel good when I have my hands in the soil – there I completely lose the sense of time,” Maria explains. “I often questioned myself, what I can give on to my children. I realized that one of the biggest gifts is to be able to live with nature and to have a place where you truly feel at home.” “Visiting the vegetable garden before going to work is a must for my dad. There you find him, perfectly dressed in a suit and tie, standing in his shiny shoes in the muddy soil of the vegetable garden or, when help is needed, sitting on a tractor!” Maria tells amused.

When approaching Rappersbühl hill, the first of the three buildings blends perfectly in with nature, becoming part of the landscape, highlighting the architecture, and, together with the historic trees, giving the place identity. It is the home of Maria Oberrauch, her partner, and her two sons. While most of the wooden structure is covered with shingles, large glass openings towards the surrounding landscape connect indoor with outdoor, allowing panoramic views. Carefully chosen, ecologically valuable building materials are used for all interior spaces, such as the earth-colored organic clay-plaster for the walls. It adds warmth and provides a unique aesthetic with depth of color, tone, and texture, but it also improves the air quality, store heat, and ensures a healthy indoor climate. Untreated, natural wood sourced for the most part from the property’s forests is also used generously indoors. Warm water and floor heating are generated by a Photovoltaics heating system. The house contains an open living, dining, and kitchen space, a day-toilet on the main floor, and two bedrooms, one large bathroom, and one toilet on the lower floor. The inviting, open design of the interior blends the beauty of nature and contemporary aesthetics, creating a harmonious living space with natural elements, clean lines, and modern design. Maria focused on creating a sense of balance and tranquility by integrating organic materials, ample natural light, and emphasizing simplicity. The allowance of visual emptiness expresses cultivated simplicity as the true eye-catcher is the surrounding nature. “It is a place to slow down, where the clock is the sun and the TV is replaced by large windows that reveal constantly changing views of endless forests, meadows, and mountains,” Maria says. Locally crafted modern furniture and well-loved family heritage pieces share the clay-clad interior.

An adjoining building houses the farmer’s apartment and five holiday units that offer the experience of a high-quality-level holiday on the farm. Partly integrated into the sloping landscape, it becomes part of the landscape itself and is almost invisible to the eye thanks to its grass- and wildflower-covered folding roof. Shaggy Angora goats and sheep ensure the sustainable mowing of the steep planted roof.

A stone’s throw away lies the hamlet’s largest and most imposing building, which houses the barn with stables and a large hay loft. Its majestic size reflects the animal-friendly farming philosophy, ensuring the livestock plenty of space. Positioned amidst century-old trees, it is built following local guidelines for rural architecture. A small barbecue area, the sauna, and the small pond are cozy spaces for togetherness that open up everywhere, making ‘Rappersbühl the ideal family meeting place. “Farming here is close to nature, small, and diverse, so we can produce a lot of our own food – for the extended family and our guests,” explains Maria. ‘Rappersbühl’ has turned out to be a true place for the soul,” Maria says. “And what a gift it is to be able to realize my own dream project with my daughter, combining Maria’s dream with mine,” Heiner adds.

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