development and production building wild elec. villach

architectural concept
the rapid growth of wild electronics and the current inefficient division of material logistics across two separate halls require the construction of a new facility, to be located within the science and technology area in villach. the design proposes a compact, elongated hall that fulfills the demand for extreme flexibility and maximum internal transparency.
the two-story main structure is conceived as a lightweight steel truss construction with a gallery level in solid construction. the result is a column-free assembly hall offering maximum adaptability for future operational changes.
the building is organized transversely into four longitudinal zones: delivery – storage – assembly – entrance area with office and laboratory spaces. this clear zoning ensures efficient workflow from goods delivery through storage and into the assembly hall, while all office and laboratory areas face the green space of the adjacent park.
the required expansion potential is naturally integrated into this organization: extensions can be realized in longitudinal direction in several phases without disrupting the ideal logistics layout or internal workflow.

delivery zone
located at the southeastern edge of the site, the delivery area is protected by a large cantilevered canopy, providing weather protection for loading and unloading. dedicated access and exit lanes eliminate the need for turning areas.
tensioned, semi-transparent vertical membranes protect this zone from wind and driving rain while offering visual screening for the logistics area. they also serve as surfaces for large-scale transparent art prints – visible from the nearby motorway – establishing a recognizable landmark element. these installations could be periodically redesigned, transforming the site into a recurring art event.

storage area
directly adjoining the delivery zone and extending the full length of the hall, the two-story multipurpose heavy-duty storage area accompanies the assembly zone and forms the logistical backbone of the building.

assembly hall
the core of the building is a two-story, column-free assembly hall with bridge-like suspended gallery levels, allowing spatial and visual connectivity between floors. this structure ensures adaptability to evolving production processes and variable group configurations.
large north-east–facing roof sheds provide glare-free daylight, while the inclined roof planes accommodate all technical installations such as ventilation, electrical, and compressed air systems.

entrance area with laboratories and offices
as in the company’s völkermarkt location, the main entrance is accessed via a reflecting water feature, within which individual art objects can be placed — creating a strong visual and symbolic first impression for visitors. the representative foyer is characterized by a large seating arena, forming together with the café area an ideal space for communication and various events. the outdoor café terrace, sheltered from the weather, overlooks the water feature and extends the social space outward.
the laboratories and offices are arranged over two floors; a continuous glass wall allows visual connection with the assembly hall while maintaining acoustic separation. between the office and lab zones, two-story vertical circulation and social areas provide natural light and spatial relief. the resulting sloped walls beneath the roof sheds are ideal locations for art displays and exhibitions.

exterior design
traffic areas are paved only where necessary; parking surfaces are designed with grass pavers or gravel turf and shaded by trees. the green parking areas are positioned northwest of the building, within view of the planned parking structure, ensuring short walking distances for employees.
visitor and residual parking spaces, as required by kbo, are located within the parking structure and can be reached via a short path through the landscaped park.

fire protection and escape concept
escape routes lead directly outdoors over short distances, keeping within the maximum permissible escape lengths without requiring additional fire-rated stairwells.

the building is equipped with:
a fully automatic fire detection system according to trvb 123 s in conjunction with trvb 151 s and 114 s
an extended automatic extinguishing assistance system (eal) providing full protection in accordance with trvb 127 s
wall hydrants throughout the building (trvb 128 s)
natural smoke and heat exhaust systems in storage and assembly areas (trvb 125 s)
emergency lighting limited to escape routes (ove e 8101 / ove-rl r12-2)
lightning protection system in compliance with öve/önorm en 62305
the use of an extended automatic extinguishing system ensures effective fire suppression before the arrival of the fire brigade, significantly increasing building safety and offering insurance advantages. this allows the steel structure to remain visually exposed and uncoated, maintaining its filigree architectural expression without the need for fire-resistant paint or cladding.

energy and building services concept
base load heating and moderate cooling are provided via the thermally activated floor slab, with individual room temperature regulation through radiant floor and ceiling systems or via supply air temperature control.
the mechanical ventilation systems feature heat recovery and demand-controlled air volume regulation for the assembly, office, and gastronomy areas, optionally supported by adiabatic cooling to reduce mechanical cooling loads.
heat supply is provided by district heating or alternatively by heat pump systems integrated with the cooling units, utilizing environmental energy sources such as groundwater, geothermal, or air energy — selected based on local availability, installation cost, and noise emission criteria.
the main two-story structural system is a steel truss frame combined with solid gallery slabs. six transverse spatial trusses form the primary load-bearing elements, connected longitudinally by triangular side trusses. the main structure rests on inclined supports that act as frames, providing both vertical and horizontal load transfer.
the roof deck consists of prefabricated clt timber panels spanning between the side trusses. the gallery level is partially suspended from the roof structure and partially supported on columns in the office areas. it is constructed as a lightweight hollow-core concrete slab to reduce weight while maintaining rigidity.