Urban development with a focus on climate resilience and sustainability

While urban areas are becoming increasingly sensitive to climate change due to heat islands, heat waves and summer smog, urban growth is accelerating simultaneously. With "Kennedy Garden" in Vienna, BUWOG, as one of the leading full-service providers on the Austrian residential property market, is realising an urban development project that combines climate protection and energy efficiency. The project was awarded the Greenpass silver certificate for planning and architecture. The Schöck Isokorb makes a decisive contribution to an energy-efficient building envelope. As part of the structural design, the load-bearing thermal insulation element thermally separates the complex arrangement of loggias and balconies, thereby reducing thermal bridges to a minimum.

The building sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and is therefore an important factor to achieve the Austrian federal government's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2040. BUWOG is the only real estate company to be part of the "klimaaktiv" pact of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection and has already implemented numerous sustainable projects in new and existing buildings. In Vienna's 14th district of Penzing, not far from the eponymous Kennedy Bridge, the "Kennedy Garden", a flagship project for sustainable and contemporary living, has been under construction on behalf of BUWOG since September 2020. Six individually designed buildings are spread across the site and together offer space for 512 residential units. The new residential neighbourhood is characterised by a green park landscape and private open spaces for future residents. From BUWOG's point of view, the project paves the way for climate-sensitive neighbourhood development. "Urban areas are increasingly suffering from climate change. Slowing down global warming and reducing the impact on residents is also the task of the construction industry," says BUWOG Managing Director Andreas Holler. "With the Kennedy Garden project, we are showing that sustainable living quality can be realised together with urban development goals. The silver Greenpass certificate is a confirmation."

The goal of liveable urban space

The Greenpass certification is a scientifically developed and standardised assessment procedure designed to optimise and enhance real estate and open spaces. The certification provides the first internationally valid proof of quality for the climate resilience of buildings, neighbourhoods and open spaces in new and existing buildings. Globally, Greenpass is the first comprehensive software-based solution for climate-secure architecture and urban development. It illustrates the impact of buildings, urban spaces and infrastructure on the urban environment and makes them comparable. The Greenpass system supports urban planners and architects in creating liveable cities and buildings with a high level of climate resilience. The assessment involves analysing and simulating 28 performance indicators from the 6 urban impact areas: climate, water, air, biodiversity, cost and energy.

Thermal separation of cantilevered building parts minimises thermal bridges

The Schöck Isokorb is part of the energy-efficient building envelope in the first construction phase of the "Kennedy Garden". On the central structure with an H-shaped floor plan - called "Magnolia" - the load-bearing thermal insulation element ensures the structural connection of the wall panels, including the complex arrangement of balconies and loggias, and thus contributes to sustainable construction. Without professional insulation, the numerous cantilevers would act like cooling fins, driving up heating costs and reducing the building's climate performance. In addition, cooled slabs and walls lead to an increased risk of mould. This not only reduces the quality of living, but also harms the health of the residents and is a risk to the building structure and its value.

The Isokorb was integrated into prefabricated concrete elements for the wall connections. These were manufactured by Mischek Systembau, a subsidiary of the general contractor STRABAG, in various shapes and dimensions. Some of the wall panels extend over three storeys and form the main supporting structure for the balcony slabs.

Predefined connections in the precast element, partly high loads and different installation scenarios required a customised design of the wall-supporting thermal insulation elements. Therefore, Schöck manufactured them as special components. Standard elements for balcony connections were added to limit deformation and for localised load peaks in the corner area and in areas with large spans. Jernej Standeker, Head of Technical Design Department at Schöck in Vienna: "We support cost-efficient construction and energy saving with our products. Kennedy Garden is a comprehensive climate-sensitive project - and one that does not compromise on architectural elegance. That fits in perfectly with our idea of sustainability." Schöck Isokorb will also play a key role in several other buildings at “Kennedy Garden”.

Construction site board

Developer: BUWOG Penzinger Straße 76 GmbH, Wien
General contractor: STRABAG AG, Wien
Supplier of precast concrete elements: Mischek Systembau GmbH, Gerasdorf bei Wien
Construction time: September 2020 bis Frühjahr 2023
Architects: LOVE architecture and urbanism, Graz („Magnolia“„ „Hortensia“, „Primula“ und „Calla“, 274 Eigentumswohnungen); DELTA PODS Architects, Wien; („Lavendula“, 114 Mietwohnungen); clemens kirsch architektur, Wien („Orchidea“, 124 Mitwohnungen im Rahmen der Wiener Wohninitiative)
Structural Engineering: Toms Ziviltechniker GmbH, Krems
Schöck Product: Isokorb T Typ WL-WU (auskragende Wände), Isokorb T Typ KL-O (freikragende Balkone mit Höhenversatz), Isokorb T Typ QP (Loggien)