19-11-2002

Vienna, Gasometer City, J.Nouvel, Coop Himmelb(l)au, M.Wedhorn, W.Holzbauer

Starring:Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelb(l)au,

Section:Shopping Centers, Auditorium, Sport & Wellness, Offices,

Architects: Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Manfred Wedhorn, Wilhelm Holzbauer
Location: Simmering industrial zone, Vienna.
Construction budget: 2.3 billion schillings (150 million Euro)
Date of construction of the original buildings: 1896-1899
Date of conversion competition: 1995.
Project and construction date: 1999-2001
Intended use:

1. Jean Nouvel: commercial space (7500 m2), office space (5100 m2), apartments (128 units);
2. Coop Himmelb(l)au: underground auditorium (3000 seats), commercial space (4680 m2), apartments (254 units, plus 76 student residences)
3. Manfred Wedhorn: commercial space (4700 m2), office space (5400 m2), apartments (92 units)
4. Wilhelm Holzbauer: office space (15500 m2) and apartments (141 units)

Other photos...

This unusual project has been highly successful: almost all the units in Gasometer City are already occupied, and the presence of different functions in the same area means that the development is busy both day and night.

The centrality of its location close to the Prater and the unusual solution make the development attractive to young people, prevalently from a middle to high economic and cultural background, who are attracted by the seduction of a self-sufficient space which, while somewhat reminiscent of a big shopping mall, is ennobled by the attraction of industrial archaeology and the prestige of some of the biggest names in international architecture today.

Elena Franzoia

Link:
www.gasometer.at/
http://www.photopage.net/Gasometer/gasometer.shtml

GALLERY