Aleksandar Cosic
Architectural Designer
Fluktuation
At the junction of the four Viennese municipal districts of Margareten, Mariahilf, Meidling and Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus is a viewing area whose complex historical, topographical and social layers have produced an unresolved urban knot.
For this challenge in the Wiental, contemporary urban building blocks are to be developed that are capable of moderating the historically grown disharmonies and can contribute to clarifying the complex urban situation.
Analysis
First, the building site and its historical events were examined and brought into the present context. On the one hand, the site shows many problematic areas that offer little or no quality for users. As a kind of traffic island, there is a lot of road noise and the accommodations enforce an unhealthy lifestyle. Crossing by bike is also accompanied by intersections that get in the way of traffic flow.
On the other hand, the urban space also contains some potential and historically relevant view axes that are worth seeing. The public connection and the surrounding recreational opportunities cause a high frequency of people who only cross the site due to the lack of spatial treatment.
Intention
In order to accommodate the above-mentioned aspects in a structure, I developed a fluctuating pair of spatial boundaries that frame the space but at the same time infrastructurally bind it to the surrounding areas via a second plan.
This framing is to be realised on the one hand with a landscape component and on the other hand with a structural component. Cultural events are to take place in the amplitudes of the emerging waves, bringing people together. In the space between the wave and the building site, microclimate-promoting natural gardens are to be created.
Translation
Thus, in the translation, a kind of bridge building and an opposing hill emerge, entering into a symbiotic relationship. Both meet each other at intersections at a height of 4m. In addition to this, there are also artificial ponds, which are intended to additionally cool, but also to cause the feeling of deceleration.
Zoom-Ins
At the eastern end, there should only be moderate residence. Here it is only a question of being able to change trains comfortably, but also having the option of getting something to eat in the meantime. In addition, a fluid path should encourage but not force exploration.
The central part is the heart of this project. The coming together of the two bodies forms a theatrical space that is intended to promote cultural events.
The focus here is on the grouping of people and self-organised consumption – in the principle of bottom-up. To promote this, the bridge is built according to a modular principle, which should enable the construction of stands, seating and eating possibilities.
The hill, on the other hand, slopes slightly towards the centre, which should provide an overview and thus a feeling of security.
The western part of the project focuses on the currently most pleasant place. Here, a site for cultural exchange in the form of art is intended. Gaudenzdorf, in fact, has a significant addiction problem. At this location, the suffering of those struggling with addiction should lead to confrontation through art and not be pushed aside.
Uses
Statical Concept
In the elevation, you can see that a kind of wave pattern has been used as a motif here as well. This pattern originated from a static idea of creating a stress-free arch. In close proximity, a sort of kinship with the vibrant Gürtelbogen is thus established, this time in a more material-efficient design, with bicycles instead of trains on the upper level.
Reinforced concrete has currently fallen into disrepute, and not without reason. Especially its recyclability is hardly feasible due to the bond with steel.
To counteract this, a recycled concrete with pure compressive stress and steel nodes designed to counteract shear has been conceived.
The generation of this form works with a catenary curve, similar to what Frei Otto used, which arises from pure tensile load. When you invert this shape, under uniform loading, a pure arch in compression without tensile zones is created.
Construction
Now, when connecting the two slab elements together, a ceiling element is required. However, this should also be reinforcement-free and prefabricated.
To counteract the resulting shear and provide bracing, a cable tensioning system is installed, which remains under constant tension and is designed to allow minimal movement due to temperature variations and earthquakes.
However, it is important to mention, that the components are solely interconnected through their loads. A material connection between the steel and concrete parts has thus been avoided. This ensures ease of expansion, repair, and disassembly.
The transport of the parts is also facilitated by the standard sizes with a maximum length of 6 meters. Additionally, the bridge features deep screw foundations, allowing for the avoidance of soil sealing.
The rainwater drainage is also managed in such a way that rainwater is directed along the edges and through an open rain gutter. When you take another look at the elevation, this also serves as one of the two crosspoints where the pillar-like components come into contact.
The rain gutter is designed in a way that the water visibly cascades down like a waterfall, where it is reused as irrigation water in a watering system.
Description
Aleksandar Cosic
Sommersemester 2023
Tutor: Alexander Garber