Transfer Living Vorarlberg Hartmanngasse, Rankweil

The second phase of the project Transfer Wohnraum Vorarlberg enables a meaningful reconfiguration and an increase in housing in an area that was once mainly single-family homes in Rankweil. The site is located conveniently at the confluence of a narrow access lane and the feeder route to the centre.

Two restrained constructions follow the grain of the environment and create a total of eleven residential units. The volumes are perpendicular to each other, the single-storey cube of a bicycle store seals the routes on both foot and bike, to which also the entrances are orientated. Therefore, on the inside of the small ensemble, a protected green space is created in which vegetables and flower beds are planted and the children are allowed to romp in their playground.

»In the beginning we were mainly concerned about the prejudices of the general public; we did not want to realise the buildings until they had been accepted. Neighbourhood, encouraging neighbourly attitudes, and the added value this brings to the environment were important to the concept from the beginning.«

explains co-founder Andreas Postner

Due to the variable apartment sizes and room combinations, the needs of different user groups are met. The economical interior openings create space for storage in the entrance areas to save on expensive basements. For cost reasons balcony systems are omitted, but generous French windows guarantee a light and sunny atmosphere for the interiors.

The buildings could be delivered in a simple, but solid, standard timber frame construction. Solid timber ceilings are created by local companies; special emphasis was placed on very low energy metrics. This prototype demonstrates a low-cost housing model, which is both a good integration into the existing neighbourhood and one that considers the regional value chain.