(BDT_24_015) Krakauer Straße Residential Development

Description

The residential building designed by einszueins Architektur lies at the edge of a small park on the site of the former north railway station, one of the largest inner-city development areas in Vienna. The privately initiated collective custom build project is part of a larger project consisting of two projects by two architecture offices on the same site that were winners of a competition initiated by the city of Vienna for developers. The new building was planned participatively and comprises 39 residential units of between 36 and 127m² as well as communal spaces and business units. The project was completed in December 2013 and purchased thereafter by the Verein für nachhaltiges Leben. The eight-storey building meets low-energy standards with a controlled ventilation system and is divided into two sections linked to one another by a central staircase and lift. The structural concept allows every unit to be adapted to the respective resident’s specific wishes, which ensures the long-term adaptability of the building so that it can respond to changing demands and life situations. A large communal kitchen with nursery for children is arranged on the ground floor along with the bicycle storage room and business units.

Further business units exist interspersed with apartments on the first floor to facilitate close living and working constellations. The roof of the building is equipped with a photovoltaic solar collector and has a sauna, library, apartments for guests and a large roof terrace. A space for events, which can also be let to third parties, and workshops with their own outdoor areas exist on the lower ground floor. A communal vegetable garden and seven car-sharing vehicles and cargo bikes round off the spectrum of communal facilities.

The project was initiated by a private individual, around which a core group of 15 people soon formed. After the competition was won, a further 55 adults joined the core group, expanding it to about 75% of its final size. The core idea of the project is a self-organised community that aims to promote and to live sustainability. The project unites different generations, languages, cultures and vocations under one roof. Currently, the group comprises 67 adults and 25 children and all decisions are made democratically. Participation in the planning was ensured via a standing architectural work group that met once a month. During the planning process there were five large group workshops, various information events, two individual planning meetings per unit, and a variety of questionnaires and other coaching and decision-making methods were also employed. The house administration and the association is organised as a sociocracy, which is founded on the fundamental principle of equality and a particular approach to the steering of dynamic processes that affords a high degree of participation without sacrificing the ability to act effectively and efficiently.

In spring 2010, the group and a developer took part in a competition for developers for a plot on the north railway station site, which they subsequently won.

The project began in autumn 2009 and the competition was won in May 2010. The planning process began thereafter and construction started in January 2012.

The building was financed during the construction phase by the developer via a subsidised housing loan. On completion, the building was purchased by the Vereinfür nachhaltiges Leben (Association for sustainable living). The purchase was financed by the members of the association and a low-interest loan from the GLS Bank. The residential units are made available to the members (= the residents) for a usage fee.