Віденські газосховища (“Gasometer City”) як знакові об’єкти рефункціоналізації промислової архітектури

Abstract

У статті на прикладі реновації віденських газосховищ досліджено особливості реорганізації промислових об’єктів та розглянуто варіанти наповнення їх внутрішніх просторів новими архітектурними елементами. В статті виявлено композиційні прийоми організації внутрішнього простору при рефункціоналізації газосховищ з об’єктів промислового спрямування в об’єкти житлового та громадського призначення. Встановлено, що, залежно від проектної ідеї автора, ідентичне предметно-просторове середовище може бути реорганізовано у різний спосіб.

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В статье на примере реновации венских газохранилищ исследовано особенности реорганизации промышленных объектов и рассмотрено варианты наполнения их внутренних пространств новыми архитектурными элементами. В статье выявлено композиционные приёмы организации внутреннего пространства при рефункционализации газохранилищ из объектов промышленного направления в объекты жилого и общественного назначения. Установлено, что, в зависимости от проектной идеи автора, идентичная предметно- пространственная среда может быть решена по-разному.

An intensive industrial construction in Western Europe at the end of the nineteenth-early twentieth century took place. Nowadays there are a lot of industrial facilities that are no longer used as intended. Some of these buildings and facilities are included into the UNESCO’s World Heritage List or enrolled into the list of outstanding examples of industrial architecture. In this aspect, a problem of the further existence of these objects and possible forms of their exploitation arises. One of the possible ways of solving this issue is a conversion – reconstruction and adaptation of these objects for other purposes – non-industrial ones. The abovementioned concepts can be implemented through the conversion of industrial facilities into residential areas (commonly called lofts) or public premises (cultural purpose mostly). One of the best examples of such a conversion is “Gasometеr city” in Vienna. The purpose of the article is to identify the main compositional techniques of the industrial complex reorganization (on the example of Vienna gas holders). In 1892, an international tender for the construction of new storage facilities in the industrial district Simmering was announced in Vienna. The construction of the gas plant Gasometer started on October 27, 1896. The facility was opened on October 31, 1899. Four large gas holders were built, each accommodate about 90 000 cubic meters of gas. At the time they were built, Vienna gas holders were the largest industrial buildings of this type in Europe. In 1981, they were acknowledged as outstanding examples of industrial architecture by the country’s heritage ministry. In 1995 it was decided to use these architectural structures for housing purposes. Work on the design project was completed between 1999 and 2001: Jean Nouvel designed the Gasometer A, office Coop Himmelb(l)au – Gasometer B, Manfred Veydorn – Gasometer C and Wilhelm Holzbauer – Gasometer D. The outer shell of gas holders ought to stay untouched due to the fact that the monumental brick cylinders are under protection as monuments of history and for their classical design. Each gas holder was divided into several functional areas: 1) living environment; 2) working area and 3) zone for entertainment and shopping. The shopping floors of each gas tanks are connected with each other by outer bridges between buildings. Four gas holders contain 615 modern apartments, an event hall for 3,500 people, a cinema complex, a shopping mall, Vienna municipal archives, offices of telecommunication companies, a kindergarten, a school, medical offices, and other service spaces. There are nine trapezoidal segments located along the inner perimeter of the brick cylinder with an interval from the existing walls in the Gasometer A. The end-faces of these segments are decorated with polished metal panels. This technique helps to increase the space visually. Apartments occupy eight top floors and offices occupy three lower floors. There is a shopping center and underground parking below the residential and office floors. This gasholder has a direct access to U3 subway. The project for the Gasometer B was developed by the architectural bureau Coop Himmelb(l)au. Architect Wolf Prix added three new volumes to the existing construction: the cylinder inside the Gasometer, the vivid new shield-like building outside and the multifunctional event hall “Die Bank Austria Gasometer Halle” located in the basement of the Gasometer. The project of conversion for the Gasometer C was developed by the architectural bureau Wehdorn Architect. Manfred Wehdorn created an eco-friendly designed terraced structure, which consists of six vertical sectors and four spaces with stairs; also it has two apertures for the penetration of natural light. The Gasometеr C also has an indoor garden. In order to improve an insolation of the apartments small patios and terraces near the window apertures of external wall were created on the top floors. The space-planning design for the Gasometer D, which was developed by Wilhelm Holzbauer, provided placing a new shamrock shaped structure into the existing gas tank. There are elevators and stairs in a vertical shaft in the center along with three trapezoid shape volumes around it inside the redbrick cylinder, so this gas holder has three small atriums instead of one large courtyard. The research of facilities of “Gasometer City” makes it possible to conclude that all the architects tried to do their best using the architectural features of buildings – their cylindrical shape. Residential and office spaces in the Gasometer A, B and C situated along the inner perimeter of existing walls of historic buildings, all three have cylindrical courtyards inside. The design of internal space of the Gasometer D is absolutely different. It has a shamrock shaped vertical volume in the center, so it makes most of the historical walls still visible from the inside. The design of inner spaces of gas tanks was dictated by the original form of architectural structures. It allows to determine the approach to industrial space renovation – the preservation of a primary shell, which is closely connected with inner volumes. In the past, four gas containers were a kind of culmination of Vienna industrial area, entirely closed, self-sufficient structure, which was an architectural dominant over storehouses and plants. Nowadays, after the reconstruction it is still the culmination of the entire area of the 11th district of Vienna – Simmering. These objects are not the abandoned buildings, but the attractive, luxury offices, apartments and shops now. The reconstruction aroused interest to this area of both the city residents and tourists.