The "Villa Erika" and its Count

Anyone who has their professional and residential focus in the construction industry knows how to appreciate the best quality. For the equipment with Heating and Cooling of his villa, the builder Stefan Graf was offered products from Variotherm.

At the far edge of the picturesque Waldviertel lies the town of Gmünd. There is much to discover not only in the forested surroundings but also in Gmünd itself – such as the beautiful historical buildings of the town. One of these is the traditional "Villa Erika." A beautiful building that has now been renovated by the builder BM Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Graf. The builder himself is definitely not an unknown figure in the industry. 

Stefan Graf is none other than the CEO of the construction company Leyrer + Graf. It practically goes without saying what the entrepreneur and civil engineer values: high-class quality for his renovation project.

A rough diamond is being renovated.

The "Villa Erika" is a jewel of the turn of the century and has a very special charm for Graf, as he says: When I bought it, it was clear to me that it was a rough diamond and I wanted to preserve as much as possible. Before the renovation, the villa was technically at the level of the 1970s/80s.

For Graf, it was therefore clear that while the building envelope should remain largely in its original state, the interior demanded a modern design. Renovations always bring some challenges and surprises, as in my case, because it involves an old building structure and many steps were necessary to bring the house up to the latest technical standards, reports the builder. Because renovating a historic villa means, in addition to sophisticated and prudent project implementers, above all: No off-the-shelf solution.

And this is exactly where the extensive experience and planning competence of Variotherm comes into play.

Planning skills for sloping ceilings

For the implementation of the project, a certain amount of planning skill was required. A special feature of the renovation project was the high number of sloping roofs. Thanks to the installed modular panels with pre-integrated pipes, these areas are now used for heating and cooling. In collaboration with Raiffeisen Lagerhaus Gmünd (Technology: Christian Haneder / Senior Technician: Stefan Faltin) and the client, Variotherm took over the complete implementation of the new heating and cooling system.

A total of 88 m2 was activated – a considerable number of square meters, which now ensure comfort and perfect well-being in every season thanks to the VarioManifold 5.0 with 17 circuits. The first experiences of Graf, who moved into Villa Erika this spring, are very good: “I like it cool, and since the bedrooms are located in the attic, it was certainly a good and right investment.”

Optimal use of all areas.

Thanks to the well-thought-out product solutions, the builder could not only rely on the proven Variotherm quality but also on the optimal use of every surface of the historic building. Unlike conventional radiators, which obstruct valuable wall space and are not particularly aesthetic, the ModularWall is installed in Drywall Construction and is therefore invisible.

This means absolute freedom of furnishing and design for the builder and his family, and that the free sloping ceilings and ceiling surfaces gain a meaningful additional function. Due to the quick response time, the rooms in Villa Erika are now cooled without any drafts. The same system provides cozy warmth in winter. Both the Heating and Cooling are based on a Low Temperature System, which significantly saves energy costs – an absolute advantage, especially for historic buildings!

Project board

Variotherm Products:

ModularCeiling Cooling & Heating: 88 m2 

Client: BM Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Graf, CEO Leyrer + Graf Baugesellschaft m.b.H.

Installer: Lagerhaus Gmünd, Gmünd