historic center revitalization building rehabilitation

Densification below Castle Hill. Revitalization of the Historic Center

Recently completed, Densification below Castle Hill is a project in the Alpine region of Austria, near the hill on which the ruins of Alt-Ems Castle stand. As part of a broader program for the revitalization and densification of the historic center, this new project by the Austrian firm MWArchitekten, replaces a wooden building destroyed in 2020

Recovery of the Building Heritage of a Historic Center

Positioned behind the castle square's arch, beneath the ruins of Alt-Ems castle, the city's original center is undergoing a comprehensive development process.
The building refurbished by MWArchitekten becomes a symbol of this urban area's revitalization: it is strategically positioned from an urban planning perspective and plays a fascinating role from a landscape viewpoint.
Indeed, we are in the confluence area of the Ems and Salzbach rivers, where mills and sawmills operated from the 16th to the 20th century.
The building of the new architectural project replaces a wooden extension that was destroyed in a fire in 2020.

The Exterior of the Rehabilitated Building Blends with the Landscape and the Historic Center

It recalls the local typical hut style, with a slender shape on a reduced plan. Through an architectural cut, the building appears independent. The space is very limited and the designer had to adhere to the existing construction restrictions and the building code on the east side, while on the west, the construction creates a new visual entity. Formally, the building fluidly interprets the horizontal stratification of the surrounding buildings.

The Interior of the Recovered Building Fully Utilizes the Reinterpreted Space Volume

The cut continues inside. The staircase, created as a connecting element, follows the shape of the roof of the previously destroyed building. The resulting alternation between low and high spaces creates a dynamic sequence of environments. Although the result of the architectural project is fresh and linear, the two units, intended for residential and commercial use, offer a welcoming atmosphere. The main structure fully exploits the maximum possible volume: in the front wall in the sloping attic of the third floor, the rooms reach their peak in terms of height and view

Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Comfort of Spaces in the Architectural Project

The interior and exterior merge. The atmosphere of the wooden building is characterized by the energetic interaction between wood, concrete, and the complete wall finishes with construction materials in clay and clay plaster.
The balancing effect of the natural building materials completes the environmental comfort and the ecological approach of the building.

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MWArchitekten

Schützenstraße 4e6845 Hohenems, Austria