Skywalk Rennweg in Vienna, Austria by SOLID architecture ZT GmbH

Article source: SOLID architecture ZT GmbH

SOLID architecture designed a bridge that is enclosed on all sides to connect the two buildings Rennweg 44 and 46 at the fifth upper floor, 17 metres above the Kleistgasse in the third district of Vienna. The bridge with a span length of 22 metres was completed in May 2009.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

• Architect: SOLID architecture ZT GmbH
• Name of Project: Skywalk Rennweg
• Location: Vienna, Austria
• Collaborators: Arch DI Christine Horner
• Client: Österreichische Lotterien GmbH
• Photographer of the Project: Günter Kresser

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

• Purpose: Skywalk / Connecting Bridge between building Rennweg 44 and Rennweg 46
• Direct Commission: No, 1stprize in invited competition
• Project Status: Project completed
• Competition: July / September 2008
• Start of Planning: October 2008
• Start of Construction: April 2009
• Completion: May 2009

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

• Project Data
   
  • Gross Area: 54 m²
  • Built up Area: 54 m²
  • Useable Surface: 44 m²
  • Building Volume: 189 m²
  • Construction Costs: 40.000 € without bearing
• Construction: Stahlkonstruktion, Seitenwände verglast
• Spatial Program: Skywalk / Connecting Bridge
• Project Management: Arch. DI Christoph Hinterreitner

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

• Consultants:
   
  • Structural Engineering: RWT PLUS ZT GmbH
  • Building Physics: RWT PLUS ZT GmbH
  • Construction Supervision: CF SER/IM/BPM der Österreichischen Lotterien
• Builder:SAN AS BAU
• Steel / Glass Construction: Stahlbau Kamper GmbH
• Plumber: Ing. Ledermüller GmbH
• Electrician: Fleck Elektroinstallationen GmbH
• Fire Protection Gate: Peneder Feuerschutz GmbH
• Holder of the Copyright: SOLID architecture ZT GmbH

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Architecture

In reference to its outward appearance, the bridge adds a third and formally individual element to the two existing buildings dating back to the 1980ies. The fair grey metallic colour of the exterior surfaces of the bridge assimilates with the grey-green colour spectrum of the two already existing building structures. Large-area glazed sidewalls make the supporting construction of the bridge, which is arranged inside, visible from the outside, and they make the bridge appear light and transparent.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

The interior area of the bridge has its own individual character, independent of the two already existing buildings.
If you cross the bridge, you will experience space that is dominated by the dynamic alignments of the supporting construction and the bottom and top plate. There may also be made out a colour difference between the interior area of the bridge on the one and the existing building structure on the other side. With the exception of the fair grey floor, all surfaces are white.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Extending from the building Rennweg 46, there is created a horizontal plane into the road space, 17 metres above ground level of the Kleistgasse. From this horizontal area, there is presented a wonderful view onto the road space situated beyond and as far as the towers of the Arsenal. Following a bend in the botton plate, a slightly inclined ramp counterbalances the difference in height between the two building structures and leads into the building Rennweg 44. The construction of the details is reduced and simply supports the view and the atmosphere and the effect of the space created.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Statical System of the Bridge
The main supporting structure of the bridge is formed by means of two supporter trusses spanned beyond. The top chords of these trusses – welded hollow profiles with a lower flange projecting on one side – are integrated in the roof plane. The trussed beams consist of welded rectangular hollow steel tubes.
There are integrated welded I-beams as supports in the walking plane. These I-beams are suspended by means of tension rods from the main supporters, and they are attached to the supporter trusses of the main supporters in the bend of the bridge. Roof and floor level are formed as horizontal latticed framework and transmit the horizontal load into the already existing buiding structures.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Geometry of the Bridge
From the buildings Rennweg 44 and Rennweg 46, there is extended a horizontal plane into the road space:

The bottom plate of the 5th upper floor Rennweg 46 as bottom plate of the bridge, the ceiling above the 5th upper floor Rennweg 44 as roof of the bridge.

The bottom plate with a 6% inclined ramp and the bridge roof with its inclined roof area extend over to the 1.04 m-offset level of the neighbouring building. The bends of the two levels – bottom plate and roof – are situated on top of each other.

In ground view, the bridge is tapering from 2.70m down to a width of 2.35m at the middle of the bridge.  In combination with the bends in the roof and the bottom plate there is created a bridge structure, which extends across the road space in a rather elegant way; furthermore, its interior area is clearly dominated by the perspective dynamics of the strongly aligned lines.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Illumination
The bridge is illuminated by means of two parallel light panels extending alongside the glass walls. These two light bands imitate the bends in the roof and the sidewalls.

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Image Courtesy Günter Kresser

Tags: Austria, Vienna

Category: Bridge

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