Viennese Municipal Buildings of the 1920s

Master's Thesis by Annika Wendt

The project is intended to propose a suitable living and design concept for a residential building on the basis of the 1920s municipal buildings. The social goals of creating community and diversity are reflected in the architectural concept. Different types and sizes of housing offer space for everyone. Through cooperation and the inclusion of public space, the building and its residents can be integrated into society and the district. The building should not close itself off to the outside and appear open to outsiders, but nevertheless offer the tenants a place of protection and peace in a district struggling with social problems.

In terms of urban development, the designed building stands out from the surrounding buildings by its tower, which is positioned at the end of the road axis coming from the south. The basic cubature of the building, however, clearly adapts to the shape of the site and the surrounding urban structure, so that the building does not appear as a strange object. Three courtyards of different types offer different places to stay. The open central reception courtyard catches the street axis from the south and welcomes residents and visitors and leads them directly into the building. The large green public courtyard can be reached through two gates, so that it can be walked around in a circle, starting at the municipal courtyard. It can also be reached from the Donaukanal side through two gates, thus opening up to visitors approaching from this side. The small private courtyard, located to the east of the municipal courtyard, is exclusively occupied by residential units.
On the first floor, there is a special form of maisonette apartment, which has a small terrace area, which in turn is directly connected to the green space, which can be used by all residents.

The design of a residential building for the municipality of Vienna in the context of today's spirit of the times is intended to show that the theme of the community and its readability in architecture still plays an important role in today's residential building. Generous community areas, both inside and outside, offer both residents and visitors plenty of space for encounters and shared experiences.
The design thus represents a fusion of the analysis of the communal buildings of the 1920s and the contemporary rules and design principles in current housing construction. In this sense, the design is intended to lead the thoughts of community building into the future.