FROSCHBERG 2.0 - Designing existing neighborhood(s) to be renewable and replicable

Starting point / motivation

A large part of the portfolio of Wohnungsanlagen Gesellschaft m.b.H. (WAG Group), with almost 27,000 flats at over 50 locations in Austria, is getting outdated.

Contents and goals

Based on the exploratory project "Froschberg 2.0", a compatible densification and a comprehensive thermal-energetic refurbishment, necessary know-how and guidelines are being developed to enable WAG to further develop its entire building stock in a comprehensive and socially responsible manner towards climate neutrality.

To achieve this, "Froschberg 2.0" is developing the organizational, legal, economic, technical, and communicative framework. In the exploratory project, these will be analyzed based on the Froschberg workers' settlement and prepared for a possible follow-up demo project. The specific aim of the project is to present and integrate climate neutrality into the modernization roadmap for the workers' settlement on Forschberg.

Methods

The focus is on establishing climate neutrality targets and the development of reproducible solutions for energetic improvement, retrofitting and densification of workers' settlements, including the identification of protection targets and desired qualities. The estate in question is characterized by a diverse mix of uses, including residential buildings from different decades, a mixture of old and new buildings and various communal uses. Due to the high prevalence of workers' settlements throughout Austria, the project has a high potential for replication. The solutions developed in the project can thus point the way towards climate neutrality for a large number of similar settlements and neighborhoods.

In addition to the technical aspects, special attention will be paid to social and organizational aspects by developing suitable information, communication and participation processes in cooperation between the consortium, consisting of the Institute of Building Research & Innovation (IBR&I), EBS Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH, WAG Group and wohnbund:consult, and the residents, landscape planning and architecture.

The exploratory study also aims to identify preventive measures to avoid conflicts with residents during the conversion phase and to minimize burdens and restrictions in everyday living due to refurbishment during "ongoing operation". Emphasis is placed on demonstrating the added value of the planned implementation measures to tenants and creating incentives that motivate them to voluntarily support the transition. Another part is the consideration of various mobility solutions and operator models, whereby effective and sustainable mobility solutions are identified and integrated into the neighborhood's climate neutrality concept.

Expected results

The aim of "Froschberg 2.0" is to adapt best practices and innovative approaches from other urban environments and adapt them to the specific requirements of the area. The findings from this exploratory study are intended to serve as a guideline for raising the workers' settlements on Froschberg to the level of climate neutrality, but also to serve as a model for similar housing estates throughout Austria to accelerate the implementation of the energy and climate targets set in Austrian cities and municipalities.

Project management

IBR&I Institute of Building Research & Innovation ZT GmbH

Project or cooperation partners

• EBS Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH Linz
• WAG Wohnungsanlagen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
• wohnbund:consult eG

Susanne Hofer, MSc
Wipplingerstraße 23/3
A-1010 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (1) 5811 319 814
E-mail: susanne.hofer@building-research.at
Web: www.building-research.at