Retirement Home in Landeck

This terraced structure, built in 1976, had become uneconomical due to sub-standard building physics and energy technology. The goal was to reduce the operating and maintenance costs, and, at the same time, to improve how the building functions. The system of wall, ceiling-deck and roof elements minimises construction and transport costs; the construction time was trimmed to eleven weeks. The wood construction’s high standard of thermal insulation, teamed up with extensive frameless glazing in the west, results in optimal passive solar gains; in conjunction with the existing concrete’s thermal mass, it was possible to reduce the energy consumption by sixty-five percent. Inside, dry-assembly floor construction is a part of the ecologically sound approach. Taking cues from the existing building, the architects specified parquet and linoleum floors. Alternating with glazing which is flush with the facade, operable floor-to-ceiling windows are situated in recessed niches where they are protected from the elements. Broad, light-toned window-sills direct daylight into the rooms, holding artificial lighting to a minimum. The exterior, transparent sun-screens and solar glazing prevent overheating in the summer. Pretreated copper is the predominant material in the facade and roof, bestowing the building with a unique quality. The colourful sun screens, coupled with vertical and horizontal terracing, create a lively exterior.