Neighbour
Wood
RA36 — Graz (A)
Zigzagging balconies with larch railings enliven the facade of the residential building RA36 in Graz.
The construction of small apartments that are relatively inexpensive yet still high quality is currently one of the most essential challenges in housing construction. The Ragnitzstraße 36 project is meeting these conflicting priorities in the following manner:
A structurally simple, systematic and efficiently designed base building structure houses all apartments. To the south, this structure is flanked by zigzag-shaped, spacious balconies, while the north side features a pergola opening encased in expanded metal.
Thus, the building’s overall architectural character is defined by relatively inexpensive building components, such as the balconies. The building houses 15 small apartments (40-50m²) and one penthouse on the top floor, with a subterranean parking level below.
The north-facing pergola blocks the traffic noise of the Ragnitzstraße. The expanded metal façade is mounted such that it appears almost transparent from the west.
When approaching the building from the east, the façade appears closed and volumetric, which creates a kind of visual tilting effect as one passes the building. Overall, the appearance of the structure varies dramatically depending on the viewer’s perspective, which gives the building a very sculptural and three-dimensional feel.
„Zigzagging balconies create sculptural facade for Ragnitzstrasse 36 apartment block.“
Despite their unusual shape, the balconies add an extra 17 square metres of space to each apartment – the wider ends can accommodate an outdoor dining set, while the tapered ends can be used to display plant pots and other decorative ornaments.
