A development on the outskirts of Innsbruck, Austria, was designed to offer more than just extra living space, instead becoming an architectural project with a unique character. The concept for the new residential facility makes clever use of the plot’s exposed mountainside location. 32 units with well thought-out floor plans and recessed balconies that can be used all year round fulfil all the needs of citizens looking for a convenient place to live close to both the city and the countryside.
In Innsbruck-Kranebitten, a district located just a few kilometres outside the city centre, a new 3,800 m² residential development has been built, with three buildings housing a total of 32 apartments. The architects, scharmer – wurnig – architekten ZT gmbh, designed the buildings as an ensemble that echoes the small scale of an old woodland village, slotting inconspicuously into the surrounding countryside. The buildings are arranged in a way that creates plenty of open space that the residents can use like a park. The way they are split across different levels is a direct response to the development’s mountainside location, and provides unobstructed views of the spectacular landscape from inside the apartments. The open floor plans of the inside areas are oriented accordingly to face outwards, while the recessed balconies can be used in any weather conditions thanks to their all-glass glazing.
A concept with urban planning quality
The developer, Panorama Bauobjekt GmbH, wanted to build 32 high-end apartments with terraces or recessed balconies, and for a grocery shop to be incorporated into the residential complex. In its call to tender, the City of Innsbruck specified that the winning design would need to provide added value for the general public.
Both the developer and the city council were impressed with scharmer – wurnig – architekten’s concept and its urban planning qualities. The architects split the required number of apartments across three buildings. Despite the increased building density this created, the way the buildings were arranged and the fact that the grocery shop was positioned by the road ensured that there would be plenty of open spaces in the complex. At the same time, the location also offers a high degree of privacy. The residents can explore the green area by foot, taking the road to the south and then a path that goes around the shop and through the new central square. This way, the complex provides an urban living experience out in the country, with almost no traffic.
The added value to the public is provided by additions such as the grocery shop by the road. The design also had another objective, as architect and Managing Director Florian Schedle explains: “Since it wasn’t possible to retain the original trees in the development space, we reforested once the project was complete in order to re-establish that connection to nature.”
The mountainside construction challenge
The fact that the plot covered several different heights presented a huge challenge for the architects. However, they ended up making such good use of the mountainside location that the Innsbruck City Council praised them for coming up with a new kind of mountainside building. The recess in the ground floor area stands out immediately, giving the structures a particularly light feel. In keeping with the topographical challenges involved, the underground garage was extended to two levels, with a concealed entrance in the south-east quadrant of the complex. The way the low buildings are terraced offers a particularly good example of how the architects incorporated the environment into their concept, giving each of the apartments as clear a view as possible of the Inntal valley.
The developer wanted all the residential units to have terraces or recessed balconies. However, the climate conditions at the site needed to be taken into account: Innsbruck-Kranebitten lies at the foot of the Nordkette mountain range, at an altitude of 600 - 750 metre above sea level. The town has a temperate, occasionally alpine climate, with strong winds of up to 120 km/h a possibility at any time of year. After discussing these challenges with the architects, the developer decided to opt for recessed balconies with built-in glazing. The all-glass SL 25 XXL slide-and-turn system from Solarlux met all of their weather protection requirements while still providing maximum transparency and flexibility.
Maximum transparency and high flexibility
A total of 29 south and east-facing recessed balconies were fitted with frameless, floor-to-ceiling elements, with railings in front of them to prevent the residents from falling off. When closed, the glazing protects the balconies from the wind and rain while still allowing them to retain the sunny, airy ambience of an open-air balcony. When opened, the elements can be folded into an inconspicuous bundle of glass and tucked away at the side. The glazing also creates a thermal buffer area in both winter and summer. The architects were able to employ a number of difference floor plans, since the system’s carriage can be moved at any angle from 90° to 180°. In order to account for the complex’s exposed location, toughened safety glass (TSG) with a thickness of 10 mm was used, thus providing resistance to even heavy wind loads. In spite of their high degree of impermeability to driving rain, the 3 mm vent between the individual elements ensures that they also provide constant ventilation. The easy-to-operate slide-and-turn-elements can be opened and closed flexibly, while double horizontal running mechanisms with sealed bearings and a load capacity of 65 kg allow them to slide along their tracks easily and quietly. The zero-maintenance elements can be cleaned effortlessly from the balcony.
Service from a single source
Helping property developers and architects with the planning and development of their projects is all part of the service offered by the system developer and manufacturer. For many clients, knowing that they can leave all the planning, coordination and implementation in the hands of an expert partner is a weight off both their wallets and their minds. “The assistance we received with the project, the product information, the professional way the planning phase was handled, and the installation were all great,” says Florian Schedle.
With their little residential village at the foot of the mountain, the architects have create an ensemble that combines countryside life with ingenious architecture that is both modern and functional. The SL 25 XXL was a key component in this achievement, creating additional space in the living areas and allowing the residents to enjoy the fresh air out on their recessed balconies, whatever the weather.
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Project: New build of a residential complex in Innsbruck-Kranebitten
Client: Panorama Bauobjekt GmbH, Hall, Tyrol, Austria
Architects: scharmer – wurnig – architekten ZT gmbh
Completion date: 2019