STELA: Smart Tower Enhancement Leoben Austria
STELA Project: Smart Tower Enhancement Loeben Austria is concerned with the comprehensive thermal and technical redevelopment and simultaneous basic upgrade of housing facilities designed in the seventies (1970s), with residential usage by example of a housing facility in Judendorf Leoben.The ecological and economic background is the premise that centrally located dense population-forms will conserve resources. Life in multi-story buildings will only be accepted if the quality of housing- and living is competitive enough as compared to single family housing.
Moreover, the housing supply must address the desired life style ideas and concepts and thus enable a balanced sociocultural mix of users under consideration of demographic trends. In the scope of this demo- and pilot project, a multi-level housing facility is being addressed.
Problem addressed and initial situation
The planned STELA demo- and pilot project: Smart Tower Enhancement Loeben Austria addresses the comprehensive thermal and technological redevelopment and simultaneous basic upgrade of housing facilities designed in the seventies (1970s) by example of a housing facility in Judendorf Leoben. Furthermore, a mobility concept is to be tested which represents an integrative part of the housing facility’s energy system.The ecological and economic background is the premise that centrally located dense population bodies will conserve resources and reduce the load on the environment. Norma, Mac Lean and Kennedy have demonstrated that a lower density (57 persons/ha) with 8637 kg C02 equivalent/year contrasts a higher density (269 persons/ha) with 3341 kg C02 equivalent/year.
Life in multi-story housing facilities will only be considered attractive if the quality of housing and living is competitive enough as compared to single family housing. Moreover, from a city planning point of view, the housing supply must address the desired life style ideas and concepts and thus enable a balanced sociocultural mix of users under the consideration of demographic trends.
Within the scope of this demo- and pilot project, a multi-level housing facility is being addressed to meet such demands. The examination looks at three levels of criteria with the actual building, the directly adjacent quarters, and the effects on the urban region..
Goals and chosen method to attain these goals
The building gets a thermal buffer zone, which serves as an expanded living area. The new façade/exterior acts as a carrier for hybrid modules that produce energy through photovoltaic action. Upon demand, the integrated solar thermal elements cool the photovoltaic elements in order to increase their level of effectiveness, and protect the buffer zone from overheating. Any excess heat is diverted by geothermal probes. During the winter months geothermal energy serves to temper the new shell.
This new shell is set up via modular design and is intended for successive erection in a step-by-step renovation of the building. Additional living space will be gained through structural enlargement while using and optimizing the building’s shape. Floor plans are modified. The type of housing unit is replaced by a versatile form of housing with variable usable space. As part of a mobility concept, the ground level area is reconstructed into an e-lobby car-sharing mobility center, and/or public and commercial use is also possible. In connection with the PV elements of the façade/exterior and the energy storage opportunities from the e-mobile vehicles parked in the building, a coordinated energy supply concept and availability are created.
The project is supported by a transdisciplinary team that is capable of dealing with the technical, economic, design and sociological issues. This approach can be expanded upon following the demo project, to the immediately adjacent buildings of the complex. This would also engage the city development effects.
Demonstration of desired results and findings
It is the aim of the project to test the adaptability of a specific housing facility supply, giving consideration to the current residents and the legal constraints in a practical manner. Besides the ecological and economic enhancement, the primary points of interest are the quality of living and usage, as well as inclusion of the measures in an urban context.
The approach is documented and evaluated and may serve as a method for a novel form of building redevelopment/remediation in numerous housing facilities throughout Austria and beyond.
| Project data – Implementation project of the 3rd Call 2012 |
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| Project start: | 01/01/2014 |
| Project end planned: | 12/31/2017 |
| Approved funding: | € 951.400,– |
| Total project costs: | € 1.771.693,– |
| Consortium |
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| Stadtgemeinde Leoben (Consortial leader) |
| IBO – Österreichisches Institut für Bauen und Ökologie GmbH |
| Montanuniversität Leoben Technologietransferzentrum Außeninstitut |
| Energie Steiermark AG |
| Technische Universität Graz – Institut für Tragwerksentwurf |
| Technische Universität Graz – Institut für Gebäudelehre |
| Energie Steiermark Mobilitäts GmbH |
| Sammer & Partner Ziviltechniker GmbH |
| Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten ZT GmbH |
| Vatter & Partner ZT-GmbH |
| Norbert Rabl Ziviltechniker GmbH |
| neukühn OG |