Medical Practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten
This doctor's surgery in the Austrian Alps by Graz-based architects Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher was inspired by small wooden hay barns that dot the local landscape (+ slideshow).
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_2sq.jpg)
The medical practice by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten is located in the remote village of Ramsau, known for its cross-country skiing and ski jumping.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_3.jpg)
"The building's shape and the materiality is reminiscent of the typical historical hay barns of the Ennstal area," explained the architects.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_1.jpg)
The facade is vertically clad with roughly sawn, untreated spruce.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_8.jpg)
Spruce was chosen "because it turns grey very consistently on all sides of the building," architect Dietmar Hammerschmid told Dezeen.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_4.jpg)
Inside the building are three treatment rooms, a waiting room and a pharmacy.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_5.jpg)
The architects used larch to build the benches in the waiting room and the counter in the pharmacy.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_10.jpg)
"Larch has a lot of branches in the texture, so it has a very rough look," said Hammerschmid.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_9.jpg)
The walls behind the benches are covered in grey loden, a thick wool fabric traditional to the Austrian alps.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_11.jpg)
We've featured a couple of other buildings by the same architects – a distillery with an asymmetrical timber roof and a renovated stone chapel with skeletons in the basement.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_14.jpg)
Other projects in Austria we've published on Dezeen include a cocktail bar in Vienna with a ceiling inspired by mountains and a concert hall with a dramatically angular roof – see all our Austrian buildings.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_13.jpg)
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![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_12.jpg)
Photographs are by Dietmar Hammerschmid.
Here's some more from the architects:
The medical practice is located in Ramsau, an elevated plateau between the mountain Dachstein and Schladming.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_20.gif)
Above: floor plan
The shape and the materiality is reminiscent of the typical historical haystacks of the ennstal area.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_17.gif)
Above: north elevation
The very rough design of the outer surface is continued in the interior.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_18.gif)
Above: east elevation
Massive larch and loden was used for the furniture.
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_16.gif)
Above: south elevation
![Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten Medical practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Medical-practice-in-Ramsau-by-Hammerschmid-Pachl-Seebacher-Architekten_19.gif)
Above: west elevation