New face for implementation of municipal building in Innsbruck
The slaughterhouse block only narrowly escaped demolition. Now he’s undergoing a remodeling that gets you part
Helmut Buchacher is standing at a desk in the large, green inner courtyard of the slaughterhouse, the social housing project of the city of Innsbruck. The SPÖ politician is surrounded by mostly older residents of the area who have spent half their lives here and don’t want to leave.
It’s been six years now. The demolition of the historic residential complex, which was built in two stages (1911 to 1913 and 1922 to 1925) at the beginning of the 20th century, was almost certain at the time. A refurbishment is too expensive, and a new building would also require more living space – so argued the advocates of the demolition of the area.
10 years rings
Last but not least, it is thanks to Buchacher that things turned out differently. His joy was all the greater on Thursday when the winning project in an architectural competition was presented. “The fight for this first social housing building in Innsbruck lasted almost ten years,” recalled the club chairman of the city SPÖ.
For Mayor Georg Willi (Greens), the draft guarantees “that we are updating a piece of city history in a contemporary way”. The older part of the block perimeter development, which covers about a third of the building complex, will be demolished.
Here, the architect duo Markus Malin and Eva López let the new building grow into a sloping tower above the previous roof height. “We wanted densification, but not sealing,” says López.
One of the most important requirements of the city was that the inner courtyard with its 5,000 square meters, which is reminiscent of a park, should not be built over. According to city planner Wolfgang Andexlinger, this green oasis and its “very high quality” is also what is special about this old municipal building.
It should offer contemporary living space in which there is also a social mix. The remaining three corner towers are currently being rebuilt, in which 25 apartments will eventually offer affordable space for 72 students.
The old stock, which WILL NOT be demolished, will be given a general renovation. In addition, elevators and balconies will be added. An attic conversion offers space for a further 25 apartments with a usable area of 1,500 square meters.
“The charm is what connects”, praises Franz Danler, Managing Director of Innsbrucker Immobiliengesellschaft (MIG), the merging of the new building and the existing stock of the winning project.
This also realizes one of the original goals behind the planned demolition: more living space than before. Instead of 210 apartments, just over 300 apartments will be available in the converted slaughterhouse, which is named after the original use of the area.
New city silhouette
Architect Malin also expects a visual exclamation mark from the additional storey right next to the railway line that leads to the nearby main station: “We also wanted to create a new city silhouette that is characteristic of the city entrance.” However, that will take a few years. Completion of the entire project is scheduled for 2026.
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