st. vinzenz home schernberg

urban design concept
the plateau of schloss schernberg is shaped and framed along its southern long side by the new buildings for st. vinzenz home. the new buildings are embedded into the terrain so that the green roof rises only 1.4 m above ground level. the mountain view remains unobstructed. like a theater backdrop, the high tauern mountain range is presented to the castle plateau.

outdoor space
a circular path runs through the tree-lined courtyard, over the green roof landscape, or past the residential groups. themed areas are placed along the path, with native grasses and herbs blooming in various colors at different times, forming color oases on the roofs of the residential buildings. a delicate grove – leafless in winter – filters the view from the northern existing dormitory toward the mountains. deciduous trees provide shade in the south-facing open courtyards of the new building. by framing the castle plateau, the area is transformed into a protected, focused outdoor space.

residential groups
the residential groups are arranged like family houses in greenery along an internal residential street. squares along this street invite families to communicate. the street alternates views southward and small inner courtyards northward. individual rooms with views of the landscape cluster around residential areas with terraces. rooms can remain open during the day, allowing even sick residents to participate in the daily routine.

kitchen
the new kitchen building is located at the same level as the current kitchen for deliveries and food distribution. the existing underground passage connects the dormitories with the kitchen. optionally, a direct connection between the new kitchen and the dormitory is possible.

fire safety and escape routes
the protection objectives stated in the vienna building code are met by complying with measures in oib guideline 2 and trvb 130, except for the creation of a fire section in the entrance hall. in the hall, the separation of areas with fire loads into individual smoke sections across levels 0 to 2, combined with a smoke extraction system (rwa), prevents smoke spread. together with early alarm via automatic fire detection and short escape routes on all levels, an equivalent safety level according to §2 wbtv is ensured despite exceeding area limits.

energy concept
the energy concept is based on passive building optimization, including minimal use of suspended ceilings to utilize available thermal mass. the building is compact and highly insulated. all technical building services are located in the basements, with vertical shafts minimizing horizontal space requirements in common areas. the minimum hygienic air exchange for classrooms and the gym is provided by ventilation systems, sized to maintain co₂ levels suitable for high performance of students and teachers. the ventilation systems include efficient heat and moisture recovery for winter. adiabatic evaporative cooling systems allow summer pre-conditioning of supply air in an ecological and economical manner, without mechanical chillers or refrigerants. the ventilation system is also used for nighttime cooling. effective glare and sun protection reduce external loads. daylight is utilized through atria and roof sheds over long periods, significantly reducing lighting energy demand. the building’s base heating load is covered by concrete core activation. individual room temperatures during use are controlled via regulated heating registers in each supply air zone. gym heating is provided by responsive warm-water ceiling panels, ensuring sufficient heating even with low occupancy and reduced ventilation. a central hot water system with circulation is provided for the kitchen and gym wet areas, while remaining hot water is supplied via electric under-sink heaters to minimize heat loss.

shadow study
for the aspern federal school building project, glazing facing northwest requires special analysis due to potential overheating and glare. the shadow study shows full shading during midday throughout the year; in the afternoon, only level 1 receives sun in december, a period when solar gain is desirable. glare is mitigated by movable sun sails and vegetation. on level 1, the canopy is too short to have significant afternoon effect, so overheating and glare are partially mitigated with movable external sun sails and vegetation.