to look at the neighbouring building , one could be forgiven for thinking that martin had woken up and been suddenly transported to bavaria or somewhere in the austrian tyrol : the construction was of several storeys , solidly built of brick and wood in an undeniably germanic style , colourfully painted bright yellow , and with a picturesque sloping roof , which could prove anything other than functional in a climate that has probably not seen a snow flake since the end of the last ice age .