Vienna’s 14th district, at the fringe of the Vienna Woods: on a site sloping steeply in North-South direction sits the very compact-looking single-family house LOU.The first impression is reinforced by the matte black skin of the building.Inside, however, it offers its occupants a spacious and varied living environment on seven staggered half-story levels.At each level, the house opens differently to the outside world.A hillside cut and a court below grade provide for natural lighting of the access area and multi-purpose room. The basement becomes a full-blown living area.Above it, the main residential levels are nestled against the slope, separated from the garden only by an all around-strip of windows which allows looking and stepping out in every direction. In the center of the living area, there is a core of unclad raw reinforced concrete with the kitchen and hearth. It supports and provides discreet access to the private retreat spaces that form the roof area.Here, the parent’s and children’s bedrooms are situated at separate levels, each with a loggia that affords absolute privacy. The roof area is crowned by the bathroom and sauna level with a terrace offering a panoramic view of the surrounding Vienna Woods.