Revitalization Ulmer-Areal, Dornbirn (AT)

In addition to a striking high-rise, which acts as a beacon along the urban road, and a historic mansion that marks the eastern boundary of the property, a two-story underground storage facility was converted into a parking garage. Newly built housing with four to six stories sit atop the structure. The four northernmost buildings designed by Novaron Architekten for Schertler-Alge feature condominiums. Dietrich | Untertrifaller were responsible for refurbishing and extending the high-rise and for adding three more housing structures along Dr. Waibl-Strasse, the south-western boundary of the property.
The building heights gradually decrease by one story each house along the ascending road. This creates a balance between the high-rise and the historic mansions of Oberdorf. The ground floor areas of the newly built structures lining the road are used for retail, while the upper floors feature rental apartments subsidized by the Province of Vorarlberg.
The landscape design, uniform light-colored plaster façades and similar building proportions give the complex a harmonious appearance. Different façade designs from striking loggias of the condominiums to the playfully arranged sliding shutters of the rental properties provide different buildings with individual identity. The three new buildings by Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten offer passive house standard with controlled ventilation. The entire Ulmer Areal generates heating with a central wood-chip heating system.

Client: Schertler-Alge GmbH
Location: A-6850 Dornbirn, Dr.-Waibel-Strasse
Architecture: Dietrich | Untertrifaller with Novaron Architekten
Project management: Helmut Brunner
Construction: 2007-2009
Area: 19,040 m² (9,585 m² DUA)
Capacity: 144 apartments (66 DUA + retail space, 77 Novaron), 350 underground parking places

Awards
2010 Bauherrenpreis (client award) Vorarlberg

Partner
structural engineering: Diem, Bregenz / HAVCR: Team GMI, Dornbirn / landscape: Rotzler Krebs, Winterthur /// photos © Bruno Klomfar