THE VILLAGE: Letten has a layout far from the ordinary. The core is filled with forest, encircled by a belt of scattered one- or multiple family buildings, elevated on a terrace right above where the river Steyr meanders. Letten lacks a real center, only the Kindergarden forms a nucleus.
THE APPROACH: As a consequence of the urban sprawl in the area, new residents moving to Letten experience rather a suburban feel than a rural environment. We want to preserve the luxury of open space while creating a distinct estate identity allowing people to connect and be at home.
URBAN DEVELOPEMENT: There have been ongoing and intense discussions on how the two different types of buildings should be arranged. One option had them lined up with the present row housing, the other aligned them along the woods. The former would open up the forest front but also expose the row houses to a conventional 'front to back' situation. Situating them along the forest front creates a more harmonious scenery, in line with both the forest and the existing housing scheme. A pervious network of building elements creates multiple diverse yards, a defined centerpiece in the residential environment, room for celebrations.
