Municipal housing development at Nordwestbahnhof Vienna

The new community building reinterprets the perimeter block development, with open, semi-circular courtyards that create generous open spaces and a strong sense of community. It blends harmoniously with nature, minimises soil sealing and offers well-lit green spaces. The curved shape and elegant design emphasise the quality of living, while differentiated façades made of wood and plaster create a striking architectural character.

The semi-circular recesses create interesting forecourt situations and generous, semi-open spaces towards the centre of the site. The classic courtyard typology of Viennese municipal buildings is further developed: The semi-circular courtyards open up to the outside and form forum-like spaces that emphasise the communal aspect. At the corner of Rebhanngasse and Stichstrasse, a rounded square is created that harmonises with the architecture of the educational campus opposite and offers a generous entrance situation to the Nordwestbahnhof site. The top storey is a staggered storey that makes optimum use of the maximum building height. 

The curved shape creates a strong structural identity that is in keeping with the tradition of Viennese municipal buildings and allows residents to identify with the building. The volume has a simple yet elegant design. The architectural means have been deliberately chosen in such a way that, on the one hand, they enable an economical construction method and, on the other hand, strengthen the qualities of the integration into the surroundings and the quality of the living space.

Architecturally, the façades of the recesses are designed as warm wooden façades with deep loggias, which form a contrast to the smooth plaster façades along the building lines with balconies in front. The plinth zone facing the street is equipped with large glass surfaces and, thanks to a room height of 4 metres, offers a wide range of possible uses.