What do you do with four 100-year-old, 295,000 cubic foot capacity gas tanks that you are no longer using? Well, if you are the city of Vienna, you convert them into apartment buildings and shops!
Gasometer Vienna by Bwag is used under CC BY-SA 4.0 / Enhanced slightly from original
The Gasometers in Vienna were originally constructed in 1899 and used for nearly 100 years. The gas containers housed inside were dismantled when the city switched over to natural gas.
The question arose, “what to do with these huge structures?” In 1995 Vienna decided to remodel and revitalize the buildings and called for ideas. Four architects were chosen, each to redesign one of the four Gasometers.
Gasometer A
With this Gasometer, architect Jean Nouvel created a large indoor plaza with a translucent roof.
Gasometer B
Architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au created an innovative design for this Gasometer, adding a “shield” (structure in front) and a cylindrical structure inside. Apartments, offices, and a shopping mall are among the additions.
Gasometer A in Vienna, Austria by Andreas Poeschek is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 at
Gasometer B in Vienna, Austria by Andreas Poeschek is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 AT
Gasometer C in Vienna, Austria by Andreas Poeschek is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 at
Gasometer D in Vienna, Austria by Andreas Poeschek is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 AT
Gasometer C
Manfred Wehdorn, the architect for this Gasometer, created a terraced structure and indoor garden in this Gasometer.
Gasometer D
Architect Wilhelm Holzbauer utilized the existing structure inside this Gasometer and added an elevator, stairs, and an indoor garden.
Would people want to live and shop inside of former gas tanks? You bet! The revitalization was a success and not only was a community formed with those who live in the structures but an online community formed as well. In fact, the project was so successful that psychologists and others are studying it to try and analyze the positive, community-building effects it had.
Hats off to the city of Vienna for taking these wonderful structures and repurposing them in such a successful way!
