These zones are made as a park-like landscape or green space. The planting ranges from densely positioned trees, somewhat like a small wood, to an avenue of trees and individual trees. Spruce was chosen on account of its marked aromatic scent. Garden-like areas with a number of highly fragrant flowers and beds of herbs are also laid out. Consequently the building itself is placed in a park setting that has a number of different characters. In addition a generously dimensioned and very useful open space for breaks from work is created here.
Wien Kanal Headquarters
A BUILDING in the park
A work environment in a green setting – something everyone wants!
In predominantly commercial or industrial surroundings is this possible in the first place? Embedded in a context that is dominated by technology and surrounded by commercial typologies of a classic kind the project reacts in its own way to this problem.
Year
2018
Venue
Vienna
State
Completed
Category
Work
Size
4.894 m²
Year |
Venue |
State |
Category |
Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 |
Vienna |
Completed |
Work |
4.894 m² |
Year
2018
Venue
Vienna
State
Completed
Category
Work
Size
4.894 m²
Visual relationships
The development was designed to address the following aspects: the creation of pleasant visual relationships and the efficient organisation of the building. By pressing together the long sides of the rectangular site, the direction of the views is shifted away from frontal confrontations with what stands opposite and towards more nuanced internal relationships. In addition, the incised semi-open courtyards create open areas on the long sides of the building site.
Through the constriction and the incisions the building volume becomes a symbolic figure, an "X", which turns out to be an ideal shape in all respects: The locations of the main entrances are clearly articulated: by the way the forecourt is scooped out, by the entrance courtyard on the car park side and, in an extended sense, by the path leading from the commuter railway line that lies to the east. Internally the entire building is accessed from just a single core at the middle. The length of the wings is carefully chosen so that the escape routes require only one staircase. Therefore this staircase is positioned so that the routes to the individual units are as short as possible.
The positioning of the core and the wings that meet at this point ensure the best possible orientation. On leaving the lift or the staircase you immediately have direct views into the respective areas. An important aspect of this building shape is the high level of flexibility that it allows. The geometry makes different combinations, shifts and allocations possible. The continuous axis system allows a high degree of reversibility as well as adaptability to meet any changes in requirements. Seen as a whole, the X in the park can be understood as a working environment of real quality in the truest sense of the word.
An important aspect of this building shape is the high level of flexibility that it allows. The geometry makes different combinations, shifts and allocations possible. The continuous axis system allows a high degree
of reversibility as well as adaptability to meet any changes in requirements. Seen as a whole, the X in the park can be understood as a working environment of real quality in the truest sense of the word.
Energy concept
The building is supplied with heating and cooling by means of a highly efficient heat pump circuit. The main way of producing energy is from the waste water of the 90 metre long section of the canal on Großmarktstraße. An attempt is made to produce the operating energy required (seen in terms of energy balance) for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning cooling water and as far as is possible by means of a photovoltaic system on site so that the system requires as little outside energy as possible. The free areas of roof of the building are equipped with a PV system with a total capacity of c.145 kW peak. This means that an annual production of at least 145 MWh of electrical energy from renewable sources can be expected.
Architecture
Pichler & Traupmann Architects
Design team
Bartoz Lewandowski (team leader)
Klemens Gabriel
Project team
Klemens Gabriel (Project leader)
Patrik Drechsler
Peter Grandits
Barbara Jarmaczki
David Guisado T.
Joachim Kess
Tibor Koczian
Marvin Seifner
Julian Straub
Severin Tuerk
Wolfgang Windt
Josef Zapletal
Client
Wien Kanal, 1030 Vienna
Structural design and building physics
RWT Plus ZT GmbH, Vienna
MEP engineering
Woschitz Engineering ZT GmbH, Vienna
Electrical planning
Kubik Project GesmbH, Gießhübl
Structural fire protection
Norbert Rabl ZT GmbH, Graz
Landscape architecture
Lindle+Bukor - atelier für landschaft, Vienna
Hard facts
Start of planning: 2018
Start of construction: 2020
Completion: 2021
Usable floor area: 3.169 m²
Gross floor area: 4.894 m²
Location: 23rd district of Vienna, AT
Funciton: Headquarters
Scope: Designer with responsibility for all design services, BIM
Photos
Toni Rappersberger, Vienna
Award
1st prize (EU-wide open, single-stage competition)