extension of the district nursing home in weiz

analysis of the existing building
the district nursing home from the 1970s is located on the edge of a significant park, which plays an important role for the residents. the building originally has three floors, with a later-added fourth floor, appearing very massive in its context of two- to three-storey residential buildings and single-family houses. the balconies, converted into winter gardens, further contribute to a certain monolithic impression.
organizationally, the upper floors are characterized by a double-corridor system.
the sequence of bedrooms and open common areas defines the functional concept. despite some lack of clarity and narrowness created by the corridor system, the arrangement of private rooms interspersed with communal areas is clear and provides interaction spaces for residents.
the orientation of rooms is mainly determined by views toward the basilica in the east or the park in the west.
a clearly legible main entrance in the ground floor, with the necessary orientation and reception area, is not present in the existing building.
the basement has potential for reorganization of the kitchen and laundry.
the area east of the basement is used as a staff parking lot, offering only marginal shading from trees.

extension and clarification of the existing building
the defining elements of the existing building—a sequence of bedrooms and open common areas—also form the conceptual basis for the extension. two additional room blocks with corresponding interspersed common zones are added to the south of the existing building. this creates a cohesive complex that is clear and continues the concept of the existing building. room orientation toward the park in the west or the weizberg church in the east is maintained.

the new care hub is located in the center of the ward. short distances and clear visibility of the station are advantageous for staff. for residents and visitors, the central hub provides orientation.
the extension continues the double-corridor system of the existing building around the care hub and planting oasis, transitioning in the southern unit into a larger continuous interior space. residents benefit from ideal circulation and a sequence of social and dining areas. the concept strengthens the existing building and forms a logical southern expansion. the effort for converting south-facing rooms and integrating the existing meeting area on the ground floor can be minimized with proper construction sequencing.

construction phases
ongoing operation and bed availability are ensured by a two-phase construction sequence:

phase 1: construction of 4 rooms per floor as a self-contained section; relocation of south rooms to the new wing
phase 2: conversion of the southern section of the existing building and southern extension

existing beds remain available throughout the process.
in the existing building, central zones become more permeable through removal of support points. additional measures, such as opening the kitchenette, can further improve orientation.
temporary overbuilding of the fuchsgraben with a lightweight terrace structure is easily removable for maintenance purposes.

social interaction
interaction between young and old produces positive effects for both age groups. these pedagogical and therapeutic insights are already evident in the shared park. the establishment of child groups affiliated with the nursing home further strengthens this approach. the location of the child group at the entrance encourages encounters between the youngest and oldest. access to the child group is possible both through the new common areas of the nursing home on the ground floor and directly from outside.
both institutions share a common roof. the child area functions as an independent “children’s house.” shared terraces provide covered spaces for both age groups to craft, play, paint, and tell stories.

urban design concept
the impressive park west of the nursing home is largely preserved. the southern extension represents the most efficient and least intrusive way to expand the home while maintaining the old trees.
the guiding principle of the existing nursing home is its park location. this is reinforced by a sequence of “hanging gardens”—planted terraces that make the park’s microclimate tangible on the terraces. residents can use the shaded terraces in small groups, tend plants, and cultivate vegetable beds.
bedrooms themselves do not have private balconies, but residents can engage with plants through troughs in front of the façade. observing plants and leaves moving in the wind can provide bedridden residents with a sense of weather and season.
winter gardens have been integrated into existing rooms to allow individual plant care. newly built rooms include forward-projected planting troughs with small hornbeams or flowering shrubs, providing a protective green filter. east-side car parking is arranged to align with the park concept. shaded trees are added while still preserving views of the weizberg church.

structural concept
the planned expansion has been carefully designed and structurally coordinated with the existing building. the focus was on a logical continuation of the existing layout, considering circulation, daylighting, and structural integration. reinforced concrete construction and linear grids were adopted, adapted to current structural possibilities: increased slab spans, daylight openings in the flat ceilings of central zones, and modern connection technologies to the existing building.
the result is a clear, simple, and easily legible structural layout. in the floor plan, structural considerations for remodeling the southern cross-wing are embedded. four rooms are removed or rotated 90° to create a generous connection between old and new, while the main load-bearing structure remains largely unchanged.

material concept
material selection emphasizes ecological considerations, including embodied energy, co₂ emissions from production, transport, and deconstruction. ventilated façades feature semi-transparent glass elements; windows are wood-aluminum constructions. transparent areas are equipped with effective external solar shading.

fire protection and escape routes
the entire load-bearing structure is reinforced concrete.
the building is divided into fire compartments under 1600 m². the hall has a natural smoke and heat exhaust system. from any point in the building, exterior access is within 40 m walking distance, with at least two directional escape options. each fire compartment additionally includes two evacuation zones.

energy concept
heating and cooling are provided, where possible, using groundwater for free cooling and heat generation via a central water-to-water heat pump.
room heating and cooling utilize surface temperature systems, concrete core activation, and/or underfloor heating.
central mechanical supply and exhaust systems with heat recovery supply air to rooms and extract air via wet areas; optionally, a new ventilation unit is provided in the extension.
the energy concept relies on passive optimization, including avoidance of suspended ceilings to maximize thermal mass (concrete slabs and walls).
external solar shading, partially cantilevered terraces, and green façades reduce solar gain. acoustic elements are designed to activate thermal mass. green roofs with thick humus layers absorb and delay energy input, providing additional thermal stabilization; evaporative cooling produces a latent heat effect. flat roof areas are available for photovoltaics.