GERNER GERNER PLUS.

A Residential Building for the Present
Best Practice Example in Dealing with a Structure from the 1990s

The Viennese architecture firm GERNER GERNER PLUS. has demonstrated its expertise in dealing with existing buildings with a new project on Porzellangasse in the 9th district of Vienna. The original building from 1998 should be preserved due to various factors. However, it had some shortcomings that needed to be addressed. The residential building was handed over to the client in May 2024, after detailed planning and just over a year of construction time. Originally, the house from the 1990s was used as an office building; now it houses 24 apartments that meet the contemporary standard of a city apartment.

CHALLENGING CONDITION
The building from around the turn of the millennium was neither visually nor technically outstanding and only partially met the official requirements. Demolition was never an option and would have been extremely difficult due to the location on the Porzellangasse, which is served by a tram. For the preservation and renovation of the building, a contemporary approach to the existing structure was justified for ecological reasons. The reuse of existing materials, instead of building new ones, contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions and waste production, which are notoriously high in the construction industry. For the new residents of the house, preserving the predecessor building has some advantages: nowadays, one would rarely afford a room height of 2.70 m when constructing a new building.

ARRIVED IN THE PRESENT
With this project it has been possible for GERNER GERNER PLUS., under difficult circumstances, not only to preserve what exists but also to improve and enhance it, meeting the demands of the present. Most of the 24 apartments open on both sides of the building, allowing for ventilation and providing additional outdoor space in the form of balconies and small terraces. Creating additional outdoor space was an important concern for the architectural firm. The view outside, the possibility of opening the apartment, not only improve the standard of living, but also visually enlarge the apartment. The courtyard terraces are made possible by prefabricated steel shelves with graphically segmented metal railings; other materials would not be feasible here due to static and fire protection reasons. Towards the north-facing courtyard, large window areas were emphasized. Through the spacious courtyard, which has been equipped with play equipment and a sandpit, one can access the existing rear building. Special consideration was given to the appearance when designing the street-facing facade, considering the aesthetics of the neighboring buildings in terms of color and material. Light gray clinker strips, alternately arranged with the floor boundaries both horizontally and vertically, give the facade of the house a classically structured appearance. Even the color of the dark window frames was chosen with consideration for the streetscape. The old gable roof of the house was removed. Now, there are two high-quality apartments on the top floor with a two-story terrace that offers a view in all directions over Vienna. For a building from the 1990s, the house had a generously wide staircase, which was retained and complemented by an elegant gray stone floor and wooden handrails. It connects the six floors of the house with each other. These were also originally built differently: in three floors, there are four apartments each, while in the other three, there are only three apartments each.
Even inside the house, attention was paid to quality and the highest standards. It was about renovating the difficult existing structure, such as the rooms without a ceiling – there was no screed or sound insulation – with high-quality materials. Thus, bricks and wood were preferred. The apartments themselves are equipped with parquet flooring, wood-aluminum windows, and fine stoneware. Well-thought-out built-in wardrobes provide additional space and enhance the quality of living even in smaller apartments.