Kleinteiligkeit in der Großform – alternative planning of a mixed-use building on Vienna’s Kometgründe

Using the example of a historical urban development problem sited at the Kometgründe in Vienna, Austria, a building is being planned that offers a holistic, urban, functional and design solution that goes beyond the individual parcel towards a new configuration. The design of an unusually large, 400m long unit, in a row of houses that grew over time, offers the opportunity to reflect on the differences between a trivial large building and a project as a “Großform”. Such a large unit surrounded by a small-scale building structure can quickly become a disturbing “lump” in a negative sense. As buildings increase in size, the challenge to remain in a human scale gets more and more difficult.

The comparison of the new design with the project currently being erected on site allows the display of more than just a missed opportunity. The focus of this thesis is not to create a completely utopian vision but to try to challenge the uninspired design practice along the “Wienfluss”, showing other possibilities for similar building sites. A brief excursion into the theory of “Großform” (1) with a focus on the approach of Oswald Mathias Ungers (demanding a meaningful topic and distinct character to a “Großform”) puts the work in a larger context. By using a combination of theory and design, this thesis can serve to make some of the potentials and problems of a large building plot in a developed urban structure more comprehensible.

The conclusion of this work is not to avoid big buildings in small-scale environments. It’s through a coherent appearance and insertion, as well as through the creation of spaces and functions for the public, that the exceptional position of the building is justified.

References:
(1) Ungers, O.M. “Großformen im Wohnungsbau.“. In: Veröffentlichungen zur Architektur 5. 1966.