Description
A new large-scale housing estate was built on the outskirts of Vienna, with an urban structure based on Otto Häuselmayer’s plans. The architect realized part of the estate himself; it consists mainly of variations on terraced building. East of Süssenbrunnerstrasse the estate is bordered by an additive structure of four semi-detached houses, so that unity is conveyed as an urban totality in the linear visual links. A compelling and continuous three-storey quality also links the rooflines, despite the fact that there are clearly intelligible dividing joints between the buildings.
A largely glazed staircase joins the front and rear sections of the building to create an H-shaped figure and defines a pleasingly dimensioned courtyard area in between. The architect succeeded in doing two things with this figure as an edge to the estate, creating space and lines: on the one hand, these buildings correspond with the urban scale of the estate as a whole, and on the other hand the architect preserves the important identity-forming dimension of the individual ‘house’ for the occupants. A hierarchy of dimensions is created in this way: complete terrace, semi-detached house and finally detached house.
The attraction of the complex lies in these differing degrees of intelligibility, with the succinctness of each unit lent expression by rigorous symmetry. The façade image thrives on the alternation of clear, light volume and deeply shadowed incisions, and shows its three levels. Large openings and loggias suggest the living areas in the centre, while bed- and bathrooms are arranged consistently and lucidly on the outside edge on all floors. This order within the ground plan also creates a carefully rhythmic balance of mass and cavity within the outward appearance of the whole.
Drawings
Site plan
Axonometric diagram of a semi-detached unit
Ground floor of a house with central entrance, access passage and two residential units
Second floor of the whole group of houses with central access passage for each semi-detached unit
Third floor with two residential units and their loggias
Cross section through a semi-detached unit
Photos
Exterior view of additive units as a housing terrace
Exterior view of inner courtyard the building wings and their passages
Originally published in: Klaus-Peter Gast, Living Plans: New Concepts for Advanced Housing, Birkhäuser, 2005.