The densification of existing town centers is one of the most important ways to create affordable and environmentally sustainable housing. The building is located on the property of the former fire department in Weidling in an idyllic location close to the historic town center and the creek Weidlingbach. With the bus station right outside the door, the existing infrastructure and public transportation can be optimally utilized. Our aim was to create a vibrant neighbourhood of family-friendly and age-appropriate housing, enhanced by a communal space with a café and a kindergarten. The entire project was financed with the help of the “Assisted Living” program by the state of Lower Austria.

The compact building is accessed by a central, light-filled staircase that promotes interaction and communication. All 23 rental apartments offer generous terraces and balconies. A garden with a spacious terrace adjacent to a multipurpose room with a kitchen is open to all residents at any time. This room also serves as a point of contact for services offered by the charity organisation Caritas. The wide building base is enhanced by semi-public functions such as the café, childcare, and community room.

The sculptural appearance of the pentagonal, sculpturally formed building is further emphasized by the arrangement of a stepped bay window on the street side.
Closed balcony sidings, which address the transitions at the corners, emphasize the continuation of the façade surfaces. A clear differentiation into a base and a three-story structure integrates the scale of the building into its immediate surroundings.

A solar system with a total of 3000 liters of buffer storage supports heating and produces the required hot water. The highly insulated facade, compact building structure, and comfort ventilation system with heat recovery help minimize heating energy demand. A green roof and the de-sealing of the former fire department site regulate the local water balance and support biodiversity.

To make the street a safe area for strolling and accessing the kindergarten and café, a shared zone has been created in Feldergasse.