LIGHT TO EARTH

,A phosphorescent jewel gives off its glow and color in the dark and loses its beauty in the light of day. Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty. (…) We believe that beauty is not to be sought in the objects themselves, but in the chiaroscuro, in the play of shadows that unfolds between objects.‘

Tanizaki Jun’ichirō in praise of shadows, 1933, translated

INITIAL SITUATION

At Gaullachergasse 5 in Vienna, a recreational meeting place is to be created for the residents of the 8th district. The gap between the buildings is located in a block perimeter typical for the city and has correspondingly high neighbouring buildings, which requires a skilful use of daylight.

ARCHITECTURE

The concept ‚light to earth‘ deals with the natural course of light, from the sky to below the ground. While you can enjoy direct sunlight on the roof terraces, only a few fragments of light shine through to the basement. In between, there are interesting plays of light and shadow, which constantly create new atmospheres and visual references. The uses in the building are distributed on the basis of these different atmospheres. The centre of the complex is formed by an inner courtyard that unfolds between the two main volumes and in which natural phenomena such as light, rain and wind are staged.

CONSTRUCTION

Clay in the form of individual, large-format blocks is used as the primary construction material for the building. In addition to the ecological and biological advantages, this also guarantees a fast construction time. The ceramic strips of the elements, which are supposed to protect the clay from erosion, give the facades a strong relief, similar to that of various art nouveau buildings in the city. On the lower floors, the construction is complemented by recycled concrete, which transfers the loads and protects the building from moisture.