– PORZ

Inventory: A residential building for the present

Best practice example when dealing with a building from the 1990s

The renovation of the Walter Immobilien project in Porzellangasse was completed after just over a year of construction. The building was originally used as an office building in 1998, but now houses 24 apartments that meet the contemporary standard of a city apartment.

The building from around the turn of the millennium was neither visually nor technically outstanding and only partially met the official requirements. A contemporary approach to the existing building for ecological reasons spoke in favor of preserving and converting the building. Reusing existing things instead of building new ones contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions and waste production, which are known to be particularly high in the construction industry.

With this project, we have succeeded, under difficult circumstances, not only in preserving what already exists, but also in improving and upgrading it and meeting the requirements of the present. Most of the 24 apartments open onto both sides of the house, allowing for ventilation and offering additional outdoor space in the form of balconies and small terraces. Large window areas were used in the direction of the north-facing courtyard. The existing rear building can be reached through the spacious inner courtyard, which has been equipped with play equipment and a sandpit.

When designing the street-facing façade, special consideration was given to its appearance; the appearance of the neighboring buildings was taken into account in terms of color and material. The old gable roof of the house was removed. There are now two high-quality apartments on the top floor with a two-story terrace that offers a view of Vienna in all directions. The highest quality was also ensured inside the house.