Building with Verandas Vienna : Architecture Information

"Building with Verandas" Rüdiger Lainer + Partner APARTMENT BUILDING AND CHILDREN'S DAY-CARE CENTRE ZUR SPINNERIN, BUCHENGASSE 157, GUSSRIEGELSTRASSE 1100 VIENNA CLIENT AND SITE OWNER: HEIMBAU AND EISENHOF In short: The taller part rises out of a one- to-two storey plinth zone that has incised outdoor areas and private patios, and is shifted back from the lower, differentiated block edge. The freestanding elements are articulated by stepping, incisions and the individual projecting verandas. This concept offers residents and neighbours, despite the high density, quality outdoor space, views outside and through the development, and sunlight. The principle of the floor plans is based on a simple modular system that allows different floor plan types to be places alongside each other. Each dwelling has a private outdoor space with an area of at least 8 m². A children's day-care centre, as well as a large variety of communal outdoor areas with different qualities and types of organisation such as vegetable gardens, lawns to lie upon, sauna at roof level, children's play areas and introverted loggias (vertical gardens) enrich this oasis for living. photos : Hubert Dimko Project data: 250 apartments with floor areas ranging between 50 and 150 m² Every apartment has a private outdoor space and an underground car-parking space. Total usable floor area including children's day-care centre: ca. 22,000 m² Urban planning principle At present the only development on the site is low. This means that for the neighbours there is no building front opposite in the form of a closed block edge building several storeys high. This open quality of the terrain is a significant quality in a very densely built-up district. And at the same time a closed block edge would tend to present the new residents with closed, canyon- like streets and no views and open space. For these reasons a concept was developed that, despite the extremely high density, is intended to offer a new quality of outdoor space, views outside and through the development and sunlight for both the existing neighbours and the new residents. The edge of the block is defined by a lower development that is used for patio houses and communal spaces and can therefore be flexibly allotted to the street space so that, according to the way needs develop, shops, workshops etc. are all possible. The taller buildings are set back from this edge so that the western and eastern building volumes are lower than the legally defined outlines towards the neighbouring buildings. The southern building is at the centre so that it does not cast shadow on neighbouring buildings nor restrict their views. The concept of the contextual elements offers sunlight and views for each apartment on the different levels and also for the neighbours. The patio dwellings in the plinth area are protected against inquisitive gazes by pergolas and by the modulation of the planted roofs. photos : Michael Hierner Architecture Form of the building volumes The configuration of the buildings is developed through the optimisation of the context, the incidence of light, visual relationships and function. The sculptural building volumes are articulated using stepping, incisions and the projecting verandas. The intersections and incisions structure the internal circulation and provide an additional value in the form of various communal areas of different sizes. Structure of the apartments The principle of the floor plans is based on a simple modular system that, using the same structural shell, allows different floor plan types to be placed beside each other. The structural system of the apartments, with load-bearing centre and external walls, allows unrestricted flexibility in the long direction. Different apartment types ? and also different floor plan configurations ? can be employed. The open floor plan also allows the integration of work areas of different sizes that can be differently allotted. The circulation works together with the integrated outdoor spaces as a kind of informal communication zone related to each floor of the building. photos : Hubert Dimko Ecology Function The concept of long-term flexible use of both the ground floor as well as the upper floors is a contribution to the building's sustainability. The high proportion of both private and communal outdoor areas is intended to limit the number of those who travel away at weekends. The different sizes and qualities of the outdoor spaces mean that a diverse range of facilities can be used. Despite the high density over 10% of the site is not hard paved, and there are also large planted and green areas. The "vertical gardens" in the communal loggias enhance the circulation spaces and improve the micro-climate. The private outdoor spaces generally take the form of verandas that have single glazing to increase the length of the period during which they can be used, as well as to ensure privacy through screening. Various types of outdoor spaces allow a wide variety of uses. Building with Verandas Vienna images / information from Rüdiger Lainer + Partner