The Viennese settlement movement of the early 1920s has become legendary. This unofficial alternative to the large housing estates was characterized by own initiative, do-it-yourself construction and self-determination. A second wave followed in the early 1950s north of the Danube. Today these verdant areas form a pleasant contrast to the densely developed urban development areas. In the southern part of the old village green settlement of Aspern, not far from the nature reserve of Lobau, recently a square was developed in the style of this popular housing form.

Based on the principle of systematic randomness, 88 units have been built on two plots featuring eleven rows of four houses each. A road, which is nearly as wide as a village green, separates the complex into a western and an eastern section. It serves both as a communal and recreational space, as well as a playground and public thoroughfare. Parallel access paths adjoin crosswise. Cars are concentrated on one parking lot in the south-east section of the site. A building for communal use and a playground are situated nearby.

Based on their position on the site and the orientation of the entrance, there are four basic layouts in the shape of an ashlar. They can be differentiated based on the organization of the ground and upper floors, the number and location of the windows, the choice of façade materials and the optional basement. The living quarters are located four steps below, forming an indented “living pit”. Doubly shielded by the hedges that frame the garden and the walls that open to the sitting area in the garden, all residents find a degree of privacy that apartment buildings usually don′t offer. Prefabricated timber components ensure short assembly times and afford a pleasant living ambience.

The geometric repetitive arrangement on the site prevents prying looks from outside and the outdoor spaces in the garden are shielded from the neighbors to avoid disturbance. As an integrating meta structure, the entire property is dotted with various types of trees. Arranged in a random pattern, they soften the geometric order of the buildings. As a result, the concept of the complex meets two main requirements: the serial principle helps to save building costs and the variability is a vehicle for individual expression of the building occupants.

(Walter Zschokke, 2008)