Residential loft Vienna 7

The residential loft is the conversion of a former print shop into an apartment with a studio. The spacious loft character of the existing building was to be retained as far as possible. At the same time, retreat options and private zones were to be created for a family with three children, guests and work areas. The newly created spatially differentiated body opens up a second living level and, like an oversized piece of furniture, unites all the needs of living in a single continuous construction.

By loft-like living, we mean large and raw (industrial) spaces that are temporarily equipped with aids for living. This idea has so far reached its limits in the sanitary rooms, as these have to be supplied with structural infrastructure pipes and therefore inevitably have to deal with and adapt to the building. This means that bathrooms design and structure the surface of the room from which they draw their supply and disposal.

"Die Badestelle" (‘The Bathing Area’) reverses this principle. It is visibly positioned in the middle of the room and is equipped with functional units on all sides: hot water boiler, bathtub, washbasin with mirror, shower, WC, clothes rack, towel rail, various lights, shelves and racks. The bathing area is a piece of furniture that incorporates all the functions of a bathroom, but leaves the room itself as far as possible in peace. The floor of the room is designed as a sloping screed and sealed. The bathing area itself was made from steel tubing welded into four elements, powder-coated and bolted together on site. It stands on the screed with height-adjustable feet. The infrastructure is transferred in a bundle via a few points in the floor. All drill holes and mounting fixtures for standard sanitary items, standard fittings and the exposed pipes were planned in detail. On-site installation was then possible for two people in half a day.
Although bathing and washing are often acts of individual retreat: if the bathing area is positioned in the middle and used by several family members at the same time, it can also become communicative and lively. There are views, vistas and windows with views. Many parts are movable and users no longer have to face the wall.
Similar to a good kitchen, the processes and actions of various washing procedures have been thought through, taken into account and optimized for wellness comfort.
The bathing area is a location-independent prototype. A machine. A machine for living.
As the loft is rented, it is a pleasant thought to be able to simply take the entire bathroom with you if you move...