bechter zaffignani stacks power station control center in austria

bechter zaffignani stacks power station control center in austria
photo by rasmus norlander
all images courtesy of bechter zaffignani architekten

this control center for a power station in tyrol, austria, is a monolithic free-standing building, designed by bechter zaffignani architekten. responding to the site’s existing turbine hall, the control center continues the existing spatial direction of the old structure with a clear and expressive volume. the edifice’s materialization and color relates directly to neighboring buildings, while the use of concrete conveys a sense of security and longevity.

photo by rasmus norlander

through the vertical stacking of each individual function, the hierarchy of the internal program simplifies circulation routes and allows a linear networking of the infrastructure. in response to the user’s requirement for glare-free offices, the east and west façades have no openings. consequently, these solid panels form a load-bearing external envelope that is thermally detached from internal walls and floor slabs.

photos by rasmus norlander

from an environmental perspective, the complex has been built according to low energy construction methods, entirely insulated on the inside. a ground water well supplies the energy required for both the heat pump and the cooling plant, while owing to relatively high internal heat loads, only a small amount of warming energy has to be supplied.

photo by rasmus norlander

in contrast to the main structure, the visitor center is a narrow, elongated building that forms the boundary of the plot. a continuous strip of high-level glazing in the back wall allows visual contact with the power station complex to the south.

photos by rasmus norlander

photo by rasmus norlander

photo by rasmus norlander

photo by rasmus norlander

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project info:

client: tiroler wasserkraft AG, innsbruck
architects: bechter zaffignani architekten, bregenz
location: dr meinrad praxmarerstrasse, 6424 silz, tirol
completed: 2014
photography: rasmus norlander

project participants: baumanagement oswald (construction management, planning of building services and electrical services), ZSZ ingenieure, maurer und partner (control room design), weithas bauphysik, K&M brandschutzplanung, comparex austria (IT planning), teindl ziviltechniker (geology , hydrology), zumtobel licht, fröschl AG (concrete construction), luzian bouvier (building services), airtech (ventilation), fiegl&spielberger (electrical services)