Renovation Squared : Rural Co-habitation Model for Vierkanterhof Refurbishment

Barbara Urmossy

My project rehabilitates the Vierkanterhof typology in the countryside south of Linz. I explored the history of these farmsteads, their old family structures and their current disuse and demolition as agriculture transforms. A socio-economic analysis of contemporary Austria concluded that these buildings should be converted into communal housing to combat isolation. The Vierkanterhof links the past with the present, offering sustainable living and local employment opportunities: creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that serves as a model for rural revitalization. The project is connected to the countryside and nearby communities. The smaller building is converted into a canteen and catering, purchasing produce from neighboring farms, making meals and delivering to subscribers in the region, e.g. Linz International Airport. Situated in a cider-producing region, the land is transformed into an apple orchard, the fruits converted into beverages as a leisure activity or consumed whole. The old barn provides places for co-working and an orangery to enable year-round gardening and socialization. Over thirty small apartments for singles are combined with generous communal space, bringing inhabitants together. To expend minimal effort with maximal results, a prefabricated central core of bathroom and kitchen divide the apartments into rooms. The sloping terrain results in stepping floorplates that are accessible by staircases. Big cut-outs on the roof bring light into the interiors.

Files
Énoncé (PDF), Planche (PDF), Planche (PDF)
LINKS
Team
Teachers:
Clément Cattin, Jeffrey Huang, Emmanuel Rey
Supervision team:
Rey, Emmanuel (dir. pédagogique) ; Huang, Jeffrey (prof.) ; Cattin, Clément (maître EPFL) ; Eliasson, Susanne (expert)
Professor in charge of the statement:
Rey, Emmanuel (ENAC IA LAST)
Unit:
ENAC-SAR, LAST
Infos
Year:
2024
Period:
Master, Fall
Category:
Master Project
Copyright:
CC BY Licence
Theoretical statement

Study of the Vierkanterhoeffe in Oberoesterreich (a part of Austria) and their relevance: investigating ways to update them for use in the 21st century and beyond

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