Apartment and Office Building Schlachthausgasse | Coop Himmelb(l)au

In 1999, an urban planning study for an area measuring roughly 6,000 square meters led to a search for possible future uses. This formed the basis for a limited competition in the year 2000, won by Coop Himmelb(l)au. The design provided for a long loop along busy Schlachthausgasse. Together with neighboring buildings, the design closed the gap in the urban space of the perimeter block. At the same time, it left untouched the area of the property oriented along the Kleingasse, while acoustically separating that area from the high-traffic Schlachthausgasse. This allowed for the preservation of valuable pre-existing trees. The crossbar volume, with its six stories above ground floor level, is comprised of two slender constructed volumes arrayed one after the other, and structured individually through the application of special building components. The striking staircases and a large boardroom emerge sculpturally from the façade surface as independent components. These components both permit a better use of natural light and the optimization of internal functional processes.