"The donut effect" - a familiar occurrence in Austrian communities. It slowly draws traffic away from town centers via local suppliers on the periphery, leaving the center to die out. Our new community center, however, is fighting back against the donut effect. Developed out of the row of houses at the main square, this new heart of the village opens up as an inviting and welcoming gesture. Citizens and visitors alike will not only feel welcome, but also feel encouraged to make use of the building. A strong symmetry to the main square adds gravitas and meaning to the self-evident gathering place. The rotation of the structure and the resulting opening of the site, along with the orientation of the main entrance onto the main square, expresses an ultimate gesture of welcome. encouraging visitors to explore and discover.

The narrow "Winzergassen" (Winegrowers' lanes) offered by the frequent rhythmic shifting of the building structure provide charming inner courtyard environments, as well as space for developing a variety of activities. The new community center is functionally and structurally divided into 3 parts. Oriented to the main square at the front is the town hall. The second part of the building contains a clubhouse, providing flexible space for a variety of traditions and activities. Finally, in the eastern part of the building, a medical center provides space for up to 5 doctors operating within a group practice.

The building is segmented into several parts that are shifted to each other. On one hand, the building is sliced into bites that are compatible with the local scale, while on the other hand, it clearly depicts the spatial program and functions. The entrances for the clubhouse and the medical center are also created in the offset areas.

This offer is supplemented by the flexibility of the program, which provides citizens with a variety of options for using the building for themselves, whether in the clubhouse, via the outdoor areas, or in public zones in the city hall itself. The integrated medical center and a potential area at the rear of the property also provide an increase in frequency.

The new community center is proposed to play a central role in village activities. It is the antithesis to a mere administrative building and is interpreted as a built manifestation of a lively and active village center.

Before its completion in 2020, the project was chosen, from a field including 3 other architectural firms, as the winner of a competition organized by the municipality of Großweikersdorf in October 2017.

Technical Sheet

CLIENT: Municipality of Großweikersdorf

ARCHITECTURE: smartvoll architects

EXECUTION PLANNING: Olivia Stein Architecture

CONSULTANTS

Statics/Building Physics: Buschina & Partner ZT GmbH

Building Technology: tk11 Gebäudetechnik

Electrical engineering: EPG-Elektroplanungsgesellschaft mbH

Landscape Planning: EGKK Landschaftsarchitektur, M.Enzinger | C.Kolar GBR

Construction: Baumeister Steiner Bau GmbH

Tilers: Kramer & Fidler

Screed: Estrich Schneider-Schlossaerk GmbH

Drywall: W2 Trockenbau GmbH

Painter: Malerei Sitar KG

Zimmermann: Lieb Bau Weiz GmbH & Co KG

Roofer/plumber: Seyfried-Jecho KG

Metal construction: Schinnerl Verwaltungs GmbH

Electrical installation: Elektro Mörth GmbH

Sanitary installation: Seifried Sanitär- und Haustechnik GmbH 

Elevator: Otis GmbH

PROJECT TITLE: "Großweikersdorf Community Center – everything under one roof"

PROJECT TYPE: Community center

PROJECT LOCATION: 3701 Großweikersdorf, Lower Austria, Austria

PROJECT TEAM: Christian Kircher, Philipp Buxbaum, Olya Sendetska, Simona Slavova, Dimitar Gamizov

PROJECT SIZE: 1240m²

PLOT SIZE: 2311m²

PLANNING START: 10/2017

CONSTRUCTION START : 04/2019

COMPLETION: 10/2020

CREDITS PHOTS: Dimitar Gamizov, Romana Fürnkranz, Wienerberger/Andreas Hafenscher, Jörg Seiler

RENDERINGS: Frame9 – Tobias Colz

PRODUCTS/FURNITURE

CHAIRS: Prostoria - Bik Stuhl, Menu - Co Lounge Chair, Vitra – ID Mesh

COUCH: Prostoria - Cloud Island

TABLES: Fantoni – Framework,

SHELVING: TRIA shelving system

SOCIAL MEDIA: instagram: @smartvoll, linkedin @smartvoll

About smartvoll

Smartvoll is comprised of a handful of architects and thinkers who bond over explorations of the unknown. The compact team contains less members than the number of letters in its name, smartvoll. Working from the heart of Vienna's 7th district, the small team loves to design, immersing themselves in the fluid, vivid, and ever-changing flow of simultaneous happenings within the design process. With a focus on strong and simple concepts and visions, the team embraces the idea that form is the result of geometric testing against the content and principles that they establish within the concept, which is a two-way street. "Concept can change form, and the findings of geometry testing can influence the concept – you must simply remain agile on your feet."