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Josef Weichenberger Architects

Josef Weichenberger Architects

Vienna, AT

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SEN - Housing Sensengasse

The three structures along Sensengasse consist of:

- the University building with a central developed core;

- the middle construction which provides for office space at and below ground level, as well as residential property on the floors above;

- and a building at the head which due to its pushing formulation and open, two-floor ground floor zone symbolically creates the function of an entrance into the park and sport landscape.

The arrangement, structure and conception of these buildings create great variety and a combination of residential types with different open and green spaces such as floor, roof and façade gardens on the one hand and the optimal amount of illuminated façade areas.

The treetops along Sensengasse are “close enough to touch” for many of the apartments and create protection from both dust and noise at the same time. The algorhythm of the formal concept is based on the sequential staggering of 2 floors which are brought together to form a unit on the one hand and the spatial intertwining of angular-shaped elements.

The alternating forward and backward bounds in connection with the opening of the construction create the effect of spaciousness and intricacy of design which make it possible to bring light and air deep into the building. In this way, smaller B-types can also be exposed and “pointed through”. The modularity of this system, when consistently applied, enables a high variability in the configuration and amalgamation of the individual apartments to be achieved, and that in all three dimensions – side by side, behind one another, and above each other in the form of maisonettes. In the end, it is exactly these irritations of the system which disintegrate the structure’s large form and bring it to life.

Furthermore, there lies an additional quality due to the interesting views made possible through the exposed perimeter. The apartments are arranged so that between 3 and 6 apartments can be entered on each floor with a central, but still naturally illuminated, staircase which creates interesting views and light effects through the various indentations.

The “point-house” is to be found in the park and has been designed in such a way that the apartments demonstrate various sizes and combinations. Among them are single-storey and maisonette types which are suitable for differing generations as well as loft apartments in various sizes.

Great value has been placed upon the creation of private greenery in the form of two-storey integrated gardens as well as hanging façade greenery. The roof areas are allocated to the apartments below by means of roof gardens, terraces and atria. Furthermore, it is planned that there shall be green areas on the roofs of the buildings along Sensengasse available for common use.

The entry and administration area can be found in the plinth area of the university building. Two institutes share the property; the institutes for Education and for Languages together with a two storey library on the lower floors. The other two buildings along Sensengasse belong to the OeFSE (Austrian Research Foundation for International Development).

The façades which face the street provide strongly contrasting views into and the through the office landscape together with its generous two-storey air spaces. Through the spatially lower open space on the parking side and the chosen slanted glazing towards the “green”, this area is actively integrated both optically and physically. The view from the street into the “green” stretches across a large part of both residential buildings.

 
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Status: Built
Location: Vienna, AT
Additional Credits: Photos by:
Lisa Rastl (Große Neugasse 40; 1040 Wien; Österreich; lisa.rastl@gmx.net)