But the house's stripped-down facade is the result of a purely aesthetic decision, says Mr. Moosbrugger.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

Owners Josef and Agathe Moosbrugger say they think of the barn as a new section waiting in the wings.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

Mr. Moosbrugger says that the family thinks of the structure as a single-family home, but one with a great deal of flexibility.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

"Nearly all new kitchens around here have steam ovens, " says Ms. Moosbrugger, 57, who sees the appliance as a low-fat alternative to the frying pan.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

Mr. Moosbrugger and his wife live on the second.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

Mr. Moosbrugger had the good fortune to have a long-standing relationship with Hermann Kaufmann, a carpenter's son from a nearby village who grew up to become a well-known pioneer of sustainable architecture.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

"Our previous house was much darker, " says Mr. Moosbrugger, 62, who in addition to farming is a former longtime mayor of Bizau and, for the past decade, a representative in the parliament of Austria's Vorarlberg region.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria

Moosbrugger bought the property in 2000.

WSJ: Inside Story: A Modern Farmhouse in Austria