Pixelation
The site lies in very heterogeneous surroundings, in the transition from larger commercial structures to recently built suburban housing, single-family houses and allotment gardens. The proposed project takes up different dimensions: urban and higher along the street line, through to terraced-house-like forms towards the adjacent single-family houses.
Village structure
The buildings are arranged on the site so that, besides the ensemble effect, they form different open spaces. In addition to generous private gardens, two central outdoor spaces are created: the children's playground on one side and a high-quality communal garden with a shared pool on the other.
The “little village”
The City of Linz guideline on attic conversions does not regulate the ridge direction; here the direction of the neighbouring buildings is taken up, creating a differentiated, structured appearance towards the street. At the same time, this responds to the lower neighbouring buildings: the main volume steps down towards the plot boundaries. Beneath the resulting gables, the vertical gable walls allow the maximum possible gallery floor area to be used as full living space without sloping ceilings or the like.
Access gallery plus – the “familiar” way
The individual flats are reached via an access route that encourages communication and is more than just an access gallery: the flats are entered via (private) front gardens; the walkway passes the flats at a “respectful distance”; and, especially in the hall type, weather-protected communal areas are created.
Vertical circulation
The access system described above also has a decisive advantage: all 93 flats can be served by just 2 lifts!
Topography
The raised ground level adjoining to the north-west is taken up; the underground car park is built largely above ground with little excavation and then covered with earth. Towards the south-eastern neighbours, the change in level is used both in the terraced maisonettes (the living floor opens onto the original ground level but is reached directly from the car park and, because it is covered, does not count as above-ground floor area) and for the spa and lounge areas belonging to the pool in the basement of the L-shaped building, which open onto the green space.
The underground car park as a cost driver
The underground car park is arranged so that all flats can be reached directly from it. Its position, size and shape follow the principle of matching the footprint of the buildings above as closely as possible. This means the desired parking ratio cannot be met; extending the planned area is possible but does not seem sensible for economic reasons!
