Daidalos: New aesthetic positions, innovative technical solutions

The construction of new buildings has also come under increasing discussion in Upper Austria in recent years. The reasons for this are diverse and mostly relate to aspects of climate protection and sustainability. Despite the often justified criticism, we will not be able to completely forego the construction of new architecture in the future. As always, it is a question of moderation. With the “Sophisticatedly Planned” category, Upper Austria’s Daidalos Architecture Prize consciously acknowledges newly planned buildings.

These not only offer the opportunity for progressive aesthetic concepts that enrich the architectural landscape in an exciting and attractive way. Important technical and design innovations continue to be implemented in this segment with great commitment.

The many remarkable submissions in this category made it more than clear that Upper Austrian architectural offices plan for sustainable and responsible development. The Daidalos jury (Heidi Pretterhofer, Christian Tabernig and Georg Wilbertz) discussed intensively until the five nominees presented below were decided.

Rural farm rethought: The office created the “House in the Kälbergarten”. Froetscher Lichtenwagner a new building within a historical ensemble that combines a compact residential building with an intimate courtyard. This reinterprets the theme of the farm, abstracts its historical models and creates a building type that fits naturally into the loose development of the place – with design self-confidence.

“High-rise” in the village: Many extraordinary circumstances made this possible for the architect Andreas Pühringer from the office slp architects, to build a four-story residential building made entirely of wood in a village context. Not only the consistent aesthetic design outside and inside, but also the sophisticated use of the material, its constructive requirements and detailed solutions justify the special significance of this design.

New center for Vöcklamarkt: The office is successful with its solution for a new office building and health center in Vöcklamarkt sps architects nothing less than the urban and functional restructuring of the town center. Your building, constructed in hybrid construction (solid construction and wooden construction), combines different functions. The architectural language is reserved and harmonizes with the built environment. Great importance was placed on the detailed design and execution.

Friendly city roofs: The cloud-shaped moving roofs above the bus terminal make an important contribution to the architectural and climatic improvement of the situation on Kaiser-Josef-Platz in Wels Steinkogler Aigner Architects (landscape architecture Atelier dede). Drawing on utopias of the 1960s/1970s, the design creates an effective contrast to the existing development and redefines the urban space. This is done with great awareness of the ecological requirements of the construction task.

Dedicated tourism architecture: The new construction of the Schafbergbahn valley station in St. Wolfgang by the office dark black succeeds in combining a technically and functionally demanding construction task with a symbolic architecture. This not only reflects the important tradition of industrial and train station architecture, but also combines impressively with the scenic qualities of the place. Ambitious structural solutions and layering create an unusual transparency that leads to a dynamic interior effect.

The nominated projects

“Sophisticatedly planned” category, in alphabetical order:

• Dunkelschwarz ZT GmbH, Schafbergbahn valley station, St. Wolfgang
• Froetscher Lichtenwagner ZT GmbH, Haus im Kälbergarten, Krenglbach
• Schneider Lengauer Pühringer Architekten ZT GmbH, Das Hohe Schwarzen, Anitzberg
• Sps-Architekten ZT GmbH, community center and House of Health, Vöcklamarkt
• Steinkogler Aigner Architekten ZT GmbH, Kaiser-Josef-Platz, Wels

The awards ceremony

The jury selected the nominees in the categories “Valuable Substance” and “Ingeniously Planned” as well as for the special prize “Proven Buildings”.

The award ceremony for the Upper Austrian Architecture Prize Daidalos will take place on March 21st in the Promenaden Galleries Linz.

The OÖNachrichten awards the Daidalos together with the Chamber of Civil Engineers for Upper Austria and Salzburg. Other partners include Energie AG, Hypo Oberösterreich, WAG, Land Oberösterreich, Neue Heimat, WSG and afo architekturforum Oberösterreich.