A Quarter with a “Green Lung”
ÖBB site, Ostbahnhof Graz
Diverse, dynamic, and green: Our prizewinning design transforms a former piece of station land into a multifunctional, urban quarter with a large public park. The rigorous layout of the different zones guarantees users a particularly high-quality experience.
Multifunctional concept for young and old
A former ÖBB operational building on the Ostbahnhof in Graz is set to become a mixed-use facility with housing, retail, restaurant, service, and office space. Our concept, which was awarded second prize in a competition, is based on the vision of a dynamic quarter, whose urban heart is dominated by a large green space.
Base zone as connecting element
Special attention was paid to the development of the open spaces and the public areas. A connecting element is created in the form of a base zone with commercial and service spaces that stretches across the whole site. This enables consumers to bring life to the entire district as well as filling the cafés and restaurants that we located around the park.
Our vision was to create a dynamic social and working environment, which offers a range of development possibilities for the future of the site.
Paul Ohnmacht
Architect, Head of Design in Innsbruck
Green quality with added value
One defining feature of the quarter is the centrally located public park. This offers residents and visitors to the complex a series of attractive natural locations ranging from playgrounds, via areas of grass on which they can stretch out in summer, to “urban gardening.” And our concept also combines the existing trees with additional planting to create a “small urban forest,” which should provide natural shade and cooling, as well as supporting biodiversity and rainwater seepage. Direct connections in the form of footpaths and cycle ways between the key locations also make it easy to cross the park.
Rigorous functional organization
In order to optimize the organization and positioning of the various functions, we divided the site into two independent building plots plus the additional area occupied by the park. The two potentially noisier ends of the district are protected by office buildings. In order to maximize the light and sunshine reaching the apartments and balconies, these begin at first floor level. Most units benefit from the public green spaces due to their location, while the raised park to the east of the complex forms the private open space of the residential complex.
