Function Follows Form
Hadid’s Spittelauer Arcade Housing
In the most famous quotation of Modernism (from Le Corbusier’s manifesto ‘Towards a New Architecture, 1923) the art of architecture is defined as ‘the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light’. Besides providing visual beauty a mayor concern in the creation of buildings rely on whether the exterior, sculptural form should be allowed any sort of priority over the contained interior spaces – or the interior functions should be enhanced (in importance) to dominate the exterior expression?
In the case of a grain store the distinction between outer skins versus content will in general be an easy task while in more complex jobs the architect will have to combine the will of spaces with a concern for the outside appearance. In no way an easy decision which in turn may lead to double coded or even contradicting facades.
In the case of Spittelauer Laende Housing (1999-2005) just north of central Vienna London-based Zaha Hadid has clearly chosen a priority of sculptural form giving over eventual interior needs of functions. The site offered is dominated by a culmination of densely overlapping infrastructural elements like pedestrian walks and bicycle tracks along the slopes of the Danube Canal interfering with one of Vienna’s busiest incoming roads next to historical stages of Otto Wagner’s viaducts for the first underground (unused) railway to the subway network that still exists.
Considering the complexity of transportation systems passing through and under this site the architect has chosen to raise the flats on concrete columns or cutting up the complex in minor parts in order to wrestle them free of the traffic corridors.
Earlier in her career Zaha Hadid (born in 1950) has made projects of adding-up building compositions, for instance for the city of Hamburg, but in this realized housing complex the different parts of flats are more clearly torn apart in at least three pieces in respect to the transportation ducts beneath and around the buildings while providing better views and access for daylight in the apartments. The resulting white stuccoed facades can be experienced as a puzzle of related forms being intentionally drawn apart – in a very convincing rhythm architecturally considered.
Most typically for the artistic signature of Hadid all parts of the flats are tilted in angular or diamond shapes thus indicating building movements from one part of the facades to the next. Considering the multitude of traffic corridors inflicting the basement the flats must have been extremely difficult to plan and design – not to mention finance and later build. On the other hand an exposed site hovering freely over the surrounding cityscape, except the inconveniences from traffic noise, is a gift for the sculptural qualities of architecture which in this case can be enjoyed undisturbed from any direction at far or close range.
Functionally considered a series of apartments, offices and artist’s studios weave like a ribbon through, around and over the arched bays of the viaduct. The whitewashed buildings in 4-5 floors playfully interact with themselves depending on the point of view or from which side you penetrate the sculptured composition generating a multitude of spatial relationships. The perception of these is intensified by the different speeds of the various transportation elements in response to the architectural language.
Except the intriguing relations between the three building members public outdoor spaces are enlivened by the infill of bars and restaurants under the viaduct arches. The related service zone flows through the remaining openings and melts into the banks of the adjacent canal creating a lively platform for public life. Even the rooftops are planned as private retreats and ads up to the visual activity along the landscaped canal.
The building programme consists mainly of social housing, although studios and offices are incorporated in the 4.000squaremetres complex In general terms windows appear rather small sized in order not to split the visual calmness of the buildings too much while also shielding the inhabitants against noise created by passing trains and vehicles.
In the future the project is planned be connected to the nearby University of business and to the Northern train station by a pedestrian a bicycle bridge.
Flemming Skude
FACTS:
Name: Spittelauer Stadtbahnbögen(1999-2005)
Address: Spittelauer Lände, 9. Bezirk, Vienna
Size: 4.000 square metres
Architect: Zaha Hadid, see ww.zaha-hadid.com
