The Art of Joining

To the north of Seestadt Aspern in Vienna’s 22nd district, we are building a new emergency response headquarters for the fire department, civil protection, and professional rescue services on behalf of the City of Vienna. The construction site is challenging: the narrow, more than 300-metre-long plot is situated in a heterogeneous area, bordered to the north by an allotment garden settlement and to the south by the rapid transit line and the subway. Our design divides the complex spatial programme into three building volumes. The open spaces between them serve as spatial joints for different access scenarios. Together, the site attains subtle rhythm and clear orientation.

»The clear and calm design language of the twin-like structures for the fire and the rescue station, the clever access scheme via a shared central forecourt, in combination with the multi-purpose hall with drill tower on the west side, provide the best solution of all the proposals submitted for the challenging conditions of the building site.«

Excerpt from the jury protocol

Interstitial Spaces

Between the multi-purpose hall in the west and the fire station building is a training facility with a hose and drill tower. In the space between the fire and rescue stations, we have designed a central forecourt as a common arrival point that is easily accessible from the north and south. The rescue station with its adjoining special operations unit is staggered in plan and height to the east. The different typologies of the buildings lend each emergency organisation an independent identity, while they remain architecturally akin with the wooden façades on the upper floors.

»The articulation into separate structures creates independent typologies for each of the various emergency services.«

Clear Organisation

The access road to the south ensures smooth entry and exit, while the buildings can be accessed from the north via a foot and bicycle path. The garages for the emergency vehicles are located on the ground floor of the fire and rescue stations. The two upper floors each accommodate offices, administration, lounge and dining areas, wardrobes, and the leisure zones, all of which are oriented to the north with views to the neighbouring green belt.

A Pleasant Stay

High quality amenities with easy access to the outdoors were important to us throughout. In the fire station building, inserted terrace courtyards ensure variety in the spatial flow. Recreation rooms and a sauna offer attractive opportunities to unwind during 24-hour shifts, while sports and fitness rooms encourage training and activities between deployments. The rescue services will have a central atrium courtyard as their open-air area, which is surrounded by the kitchen and social spaces. Offices for the administrative staff and crisis team are located on the floor above. In the eastern section of the special operations unit, there are wardrobes, a gym, and additional offices.

»Our priority was to create high-quality spaces where the crews of the emergency services and fire department can relax and recover from their demanding tasks.«

Robert Diem, Franz&Sue partner