residential building freight station linz

urban design concept

the site marks the northern gateway position to the residential development area frachtenbahnhof. this location requires the development to adopt a distinct urban design stance. the immediate proximity to the railway tracks must be treated with the highest sensitivity in terms of noise. beyond the negative noise aspect, railway tracks are an urban element with symbolic associations of travel and connectivity to other regions and countries. this positive, underlying connotation, combined with the openness of the surrounding urban space, serves as a present, guiding element for the access and residential zones. the interface between the city and the residential courtyard is formed through the filter of the access zone and green front gardens. the green area within the residential courtyard, if fully utilized, can be left as a recreational zone for all residents.

organization
the ground floor level is positioned 1.5 m above terrain, raising the ground-floor apartments and communal areas above street level. the garage is half-sunken into the site, allowing natural ventilation and daylight. access to the apartments is provided via noise-protected yet naturally ventilated galleries. apartment entrances are located at the “front gardens,” which encourage resident interaction while providing a semi-private buffer for the apartments. these two-story indentations also structure the “urban façade” and establish the beginning of the hanging gardens concept. positioning the front gardens enables a residential organization that is both attuned to the city’s vibrancy and shielded from noise.

communal areas
identity formation and residential satisfaction also require general spaces for play, conversation, gatherings, and shared events. areas for laundry and drying rooms are combined with communal indoor and outdoor spaces at the entrance hub. thus, the ground floor zone—alongside some garden apartments—serves as both circulation and meeting point for all residents. access to the central vertical circulation is possible via both the street and the residential courtyard.

hanging gardens
a defining feature of the frachtenbahnhof housing is vertical greening. hanging gardens are provided not only facing the courtyard but also in vertical front gardens of the apartments. the two-story indentations are planted with trees and climbing plants, creating a natural filter between private and access areas, as well as between city and residential space.

enhancing economic efficiency
noise protection and hanging gardens require investments that can be offset through economic measures: the ground floor level is set at +1.5 m above adjacent terrain, placing the garage at –1.3 m below terrain. parking spaces are naturally ventilated (according to OIB 2.2), with no additional fire protection measures required. there is only one garage level, and any shortfall in apartment parking is compensated by on-street parking along the residential street. potentially contaminated excavation is minimized. all circulation galleries are excluded from gross floor area (gfa) since they are open to the top (despite staggered weather protection). noise protection is ensured, and the open-access galleries allow natural air circulation without the need for conditioned ventilation. the circulation zones do not require heating. the allowable gfa can be fully allocated to maximize residential floor area.

residential ecological concept
large south- and southwest-facing windows towards the quiet courtyard optimize passive solar energy use. cantilevered balconies and terraces with additional external sunshading prevent summer overheating. solid construction using high thermal-mass materials ensures a comfortable indoor climate. the south- and southwest-facing orientation of all apartments provides excellent daylight, brightness, and direct winter sunlight with high energy gain. daylight and winter sun are often cited as key factors in apartment purchase/rental decisions. all apartments allow cross-ventilation. prominent placement and ideal accessibility of bicycle parking contribute to ecological and health-promoting residential measures.

building biology
floor coverings are PVC- and chlorine-free; building materials are free of hfkw and hfckw; adhesives are emission-free; environmentally friendly interior materials are used. careful handling of construction chemicals prevents ecologically and health-concerning substances such as plasticizers, biocides, and heavy metals. sanitary installations are largely halogen-free, with no galvanized steel pipes for drinking water and no chemical wood preservatives used in roof and wall assemblies.

outdoor space, green space, urban ecology
a generous green area provides ample space for children and adults to play and move, enhancing quality of stay for all ages. trees in the courtyard act as a green buffer between the building and neighboring properties.

façade greening
loggias contain large planted beds filled with roof substrate, raised 40 cm above floor level, allowing individual design. each apartment has the possibility of a green garden outside the window. additional climbing ropes spanning from one floor to another provide shading and complement the green façade effect.

social sustainability
the transitions between public, semi-public, semi-private, and private zones, as well as the path from the residential entrance to private apartment doors, are important for social interaction and meeting opportunities. the goal is to create neutral, multifunctional, flexible spaces that accommodate sociodemographic changes and the diverse needs of residents at all life stages. a variety of apartment layouts is proposed to allow strong resident identification. the floor plans aim for contemporary living forms with transitional spaces for living/kitchen/dining and connectable rooms rather than mono-functional spaces. compact building massing, efficient floor plans, good furniture layouts, robust material choice, and low operating and maintenance costs contribute to social sustainability. every resident has the opportunity to cultivate a personal herb garden, tomatoes, or sunflowers in the green strip outside their apartment.

structural concept
the building is constructed as a reinforced concrete structure with a highly efficient 7.5 m column grid. this grid, based on the parking deck, is used throughout all floors for load transfer. most apartment partition walls align with the grid and are built as load-bearing concrete walls. non-load-bearing envelopes, adaptable without affecting the structural system, along with simple MEP distribution via vertical shafts and short runs, non-load-bearing partitions, and minimal fixed installations, allow flexibility and expandable living spaces. to avoid thermal bridges, balconies, terraces, and access zones facing the railway are hung in steel construction outside the building envelope.