Vienna is a city full of world-famous architecture. The most valuable and best-known are, of course, the palaces, temples and other historical buildings, but the city has also seen the realisation of more recent projects, which have made their way into the architectural canon thanks to their unique form and innovation. In the 1970s, one of Austria’s most recognisable residential complexes, the Alterlaa (German: Wohn- und Kaufpark Alterlaa), was built in the southern part of Vienna.
Architecture and spatial layout
The residential and commercial complex was designed to create a fully-fledged ‘city within a city’. Alterlaa was built in stages between 1973 and 1985, designed by an architectural consortium and with the participation of Harry Glück. Its trademark was terraced buildings, so Alterlaa’s layout was based on just such a scheme, with large loggias and flower pots acting as green screens. Each unit had a kitchen open to the living room and a space without unnecessary partitions, and the larger flats were fitted with additional bathrooms. A total of 35 variants of functional layouts were designed. The three main blocks, which are labelled A, B and C, stretch parallel to each other over a length of 400 metres. They are aligned north-south and separated by 40-metre spaces. The tallest building segments reach 85 metres with 27 floors. Each of the risers has been equipped with four lifts with independent power supply. The lower floors are used for car parks and technical facilities.
Alterlaa: for the comfort of residents
Approximately 3,200 flats were built on 24 hectares, most of them for families. Almost two-thirds of the units were three-room or larger flats with an average size of 74.5 square metres. Underground parking for 3,400 cars and waste segregation facilities are planned. The planners also envisaged a range of amenities here: from schools and kindergartens, a shopping centre, medical facilities and sports areas to city parks and a church. In 1995, the Alterlaa metro station on line U6 was opened, providing a direct connection to the rest of the city. This gave the complex quick and convenient access to public transport, which significantly increased its attractiveness on the real estate market. Alterlaa today has a population of around 9,000.
Greenery and communal spaces
2015 marked the 90th anniversary of Harry Glück’s birth. On this occasion, the extensive green areas around the estate were named after him to highlight the architect’s contribution to this innovative project. This park covers an area of more than 12 hectares, which corresponds to two thirds of the total area of the estate. The site plays an important role in the daily lives of the residents, serving a recreational and social function. From the outset, the Alterlaa project had ambitions to become more than just another soulless cluster of flats. The architects envisaged creating a place for social integration and the daily life of the residents. To this end, the roofs of the buildings have been adapted into public walking terraces with saunas and swimming pools, while the central part of the blocks houses seven indoor swimming pools, a tepidarium, solariums and infrared saunas.
Alterlaa management and resident satisfaction
Today, there are also 30 estate clubs in the Alterlaa area. Their spaces have been made available to residents without a designated function and it is up to them to decide how to manage them. Inside the complex, there is also a television station and the editorial office of the estate newspaper and a small shopping centre. The entire infrastructure is maintained by a local company with 50 employees. The results of regular surveys show that Alterlaa residents are very satisfied with the standard of living on the estate. The place attracts mainly with its interesting housing offer and extensive infrastructure. The complex has shops, restaurants, a library and numerous service points. Residents own shares in the estate management company and can elect their representatives to the tenants’ council. This ensures that they have a real say in the operation of the estate.
Source: architectuul.com, wien.info.at
Also read: Architecture | Modernism | City | Vienna | Estate
