on Tour

A mansion-like annex next to the park of the Palais Thurn und Taxis extends the gymnasium that has been existing for 100 years. Although the buildings are connected in the basement, the complex is made exceptionally attractive by the courtyards.

Up to the roof terrace the interplay between interior and exterior as well as open and covered areas of the integrated multi-purpose hall is expertly presented by the placement of the structure and the pergola.

The new building in its prominent location opposite the harbour follows the course of the road and forms two courtyards by wrapping the existing L-shaped building in a block-like manner. The glazed upper floors with metal slats rest on a base area of black concrete.

For the construction of the school in Wolfurt which complies with passive energy standards only environmental friendly materials were used. The open ground plan concept which allows multifunctional playability meets the requirements of modern school life optimally.

A group of different types of training and care facilities are part of a large school district in the centre of Dornbirn. The small gym, which was built during the late 19th Century, and the new Special Education Centre complement each other. The latter and the adjacent elementary school encompass a courtyard which connects to the middle school at the west side. Fair-faced concrete characterizes the exterior, whereas birch plywood dominates the interior. Colored surfaces and beautiful lighting are further distinctive features.

The addition of storeys and the extension made of wooden elements are integrated into the complex school building without any visible break. This extensive education center not only provides adequate room for about 1,000 pupils with the new large development area.

The elongated single-storey structure with three common rooms is facing south. The two-storey head-end structure featuring embedded glass details accommodates the kitchen, the spare room and the office. The versatility of the rooms varying in height and dimension casually train children’s visual perception of space.

The focus of the school is ecology which is represented by the building. New outdoor areas are created by the two buildings that are separated over ground. The facade consists of a two-layered structure made of wood and glass covered with scaly glass slats.

As a consequence of the new construction’s positioning in relation to the existing church, a new square was created next to the guesthouses. It guides the visitors through an arcade of steel stanchions and high glass walls to the reception, the cafeteria and the dining room. Do not forget to marvel at the walk-in art object "Wasserhaus” on the premises.

The school building is an entirely wooden construction complying with passive energy standards. A two-storey cross bar accommodating the library and the auditorium forms an acoustic barrier to protect the classrooms and the green schoolyard from the street.

The new construction provides the best therapy and care conditions for disabled pupils. Light and dolphin therapies are possible in the new swimming bath. Light-filled, glazed corridors connect the simple cube on three storeys to the old building, from which the friendly yellow color scheme was adopted.

The well-known, first solar powered school in Austria which offers an extensive view of the Rhine valley, supplies itself with 80% of the heating energy with solar panels on the roof of the south facade.

The village centre is enriched by the café and bakery CaBaKo which is located on the ground floor of the rehearsal studio. The sanitary facilities are cleverly used together with the clubs.

The timber construction that complies with passive energy standards blends naturally into the middle of the village with its L-shaped structure. Through the generous glazing of the group wing on the ground floor a smooth transition to the outdoor area was created. Upstairs, the loggia connects to the outer area.

The Kindergarten in Muntlix does not appear like a box but is a passive house nonetheless. Depending on the changing perspective, the facade sometimes glows green or reddish. Another special feature is the floor made of rammed clay that is used throughout the building.

The extension and the addition of another storey have created a revised situation of urban development. The heterogeneous structure of the existing buildings is harmonized, the surrounding squares are completely reorganized and the new construction virtually forms the stretched backbone of the entire complex.

The new building of the elementary school and the new kindergarten flank the old school building. The new rooms of the elementary school and the kindergarten are made of white pine. The center is the completely glazed multi-purpose room that features a remarkable art and building project. Attention is attracted by the color scheme and structure of the concrete facade.

The house for children is made of wood and shows full-scale integration into the village structure. Carefully handcrafted details and the impressive movement area upstairs are obvious qualities which are complemented by ecological and energy efficient features.

The wooden house accommodates the kindergarten and club rooms. The roof of the fire brigade’s massive, concrete vehicle hall is a play area for children. This is a formative building for the village in every aspect.

The small extension with the sports hall and the kindergarten appears to be reserved and small. The requirement to leave the stock from the 50s unchanged and the illumination of the classrooms were prioritized. Thus, the gym is embedded and the wooden box that houses the kindergarten is superimposed within distance.

In the mountain village and high society skiing resort Warth the two-class school is equipped with all special rooms that are available for the village community as well. The large cantilevered roof that can carry 500 tons of snow attracts attention.

The primary school is integrated into the village structure; it is located on a steeply sloping ground surrounded by the church, the rectory and the town hall. The five-storey building is shaped like a cube with a structure of exposed concrete; in contrast, untreated beech tree is used for the interior constructions.

The feel-good-atmosphere is conveyed by the materials – reinforced concrete and wood – as well as by the properties – clarity and transparency – in a modern architectural language. Further contributions to the village life and its locations are the rooms for two groups of kindergarten children on the ground floor and a music rehearsal room on the first floor.

The refurbishment, the reconstruction, the landscape modification and the extension make the intentions of the innovative and exemplary attempt to school building construction from the 60s recognizable. The highlight is the view from the gym.

The same handwriting can be recognized in all new buildings – the kindergarten, the café and the grocery store. The location and the created clearances form the exemplary village center of Langenegg fulfilling the highest claim for ecological and energy minimization.