urban planning
the specified spatial program for the new smart campus, the headquarters of wien energie stromnetz gmbh, is characterized by a very high proportion of areas that must be located on the ground floor for operational purposes, combined with relatively limited plot dimensions and additional constraints such as a non-buildable gas pipeline on the eastern side of the developable site.
from these given framework conditions, and considering the traffic concept — deliveries from the east, car access from the south, and pedestrian connections from the west to the nearby gasometer u-bahn station — the following positioning of the three functional areas — support, administration, and operations — results:
the support function, which includes entrance, event, exhibition, restaurant, and distribution areas, is located on the western edge of the site, close to the gasometer, acting as the public entry point. adjacent to this, the operations building extends along the remaining length of the site. above the support area, the administration zone is arranged over four floors. this configuration allows horizontal access from the support area to operations and vertical access to administration. the building structure reaches its maximum height here with five floors, emphasizing the main entrance and distribution function.
the specified spatial program for the new smart campus, the headquarters of wien energie stromnetz gmbh, is characterized by a very high proportion of areas that must be located on the ground floor for operational purposes, combined with relatively limited plot dimensions and additional constraints such as a non-buildable gas pipeline on the eastern side of the developable site.
from these given framework conditions, and considering the traffic concept — deliveries from the east, car access from the south, and pedestrian connections from the west to the nearby gasometer u-bahn station — the following positioning of the three functional areas — support, administration, and operations — results:
the support function, which includes entrance, event, exhibition, restaurant, and distribution areas, is located on the western edge of the site, close to the gasometer, acting as the public entry point. adjacent to this, the operations building extends along the remaining length of the site. above the support area, the administration zone is arranged over four floors. this configuration allows horizontal access from the support area to operations and vertical access to administration. the building structure reaches its maximum height here with five floors, emphasizing the main entrance and distribution function.
building structure
to avoid occupying the already limited plot with additional parking, all necessary parking spaces are arranged on a level below the functional areas. this allows the parking to be directly allocated according to the corresponding functional zones. to prevent unnecessary excavation (and potential soil contamination), the entire ground floor level — including the required delivery area for operational functions — is raised by 1.50 m. this also provides several additional advantages: short ramps allow vehicle passage from the public street to the operations site; large areas benefit from natural lighting; orientation is clear; and non-heated parking spaces receive natural ventilation.
the administration area is arranged as compactly as possible to allow all vertical circulation to be organized directly from the support area. it features a double-skin façade, offering multiple benefits: improved thermal performance, summer nighttime cooling in any weather, burglary protection even with open inner façade windows, mitigation of wind gusts and pressure fluctuations, and the possibility of external sun protection in all wind conditions. the second façade also provides protection during maintenance or replacement of façade elements. light-directing systems within this envelope illuminate central zones with daylight. the second emergency exit runs through this zone. the large inner courtyard is covered with a glass roof, providing similar benefits as the double-skin façade. the operations area is characterized by the longitudinal extension of the central warehouse to the south (no windows required — summer overheating is prevented), accompanied by a continuous distribution corridor along which all core functions are located. north of the corridor, light courts and functional areas are arranged alternately in a comb-like layout, accompanied by the delivery zone. the light courts are covered with an open glass roof that provides protection from weather and sun.
to avoid occupying the already limited plot with additional parking, all necessary parking spaces are arranged on a level below the functional areas. this allows the parking to be directly allocated according to the corresponding functional zones. to prevent unnecessary excavation (and potential soil contamination), the entire ground floor level — including the required delivery area for operational functions — is raised by 1.50 m. this also provides several additional advantages: short ramps allow vehicle passage from the public street to the operations site; large areas benefit from natural lighting; orientation is clear; and non-heated parking spaces receive natural ventilation.
the administration area is arranged as compactly as possible to allow all vertical circulation to be organized directly from the support area. it features a double-skin façade, offering multiple benefits: improved thermal performance, summer nighttime cooling in any weather, burglary protection even with open inner façade windows, mitigation of wind gusts and pressure fluctuations, and the possibility of external sun protection in all wind conditions. the second façade also provides protection during maintenance or replacement of façade elements. light-directing systems within this envelope illuminate central zones with daylight. the second emergency exit runs through this zone. the large inner courtyard is covered with a glass roof, providing similar benefits as the double-skin façade. the operations area is characterized by the longitudinal extension of the central warehouse to the south (no windows required — summer overheating is prevented), accompanied by a continuous distribution corridor along which all core functions are located. north of the corridor, light courts and functional areas are arranged alternately in a comb-like layout, accompanied by the delivery zone. the light courts are covered with an open glass roof that provides protection from weather and sun.
- location:
- wien, austria
- architecture:
- fasch&fuchs.architekt:innen
- building physics:
- rothbacher, zell am see
- competition:
- 2011