ISOVER provides insulations solutions for a residence renovation in Wien, Austria that was built in 1913. Conserving a historical building while still meeting low energy building standards, a challenge Isover was happy to undertake.
This building was in need of renovation and extension. Being situ¬ated in a protected historical area meant that the old frontage had to be preserved and could only be insulated from the inside with insulation no more than 5 cm thick. As with most residential homes of that time, the windows of the living and dining areas faced onto the street while the kitchen door opened to the garden. The floor plans, therefore, had to be reorganised to integrate the garden into the living space and to open up the garden façade with a large glazed area to increase natural daylight and sunlight. The house was situated between two neighbouring houses and did not have direct access to the street, which made detailed logistical planning essential, particularly with regard to the timing of the work. The existing front façade was renovated in the Jugendstil style of 1900s Vienna. Rooms between the garden façade and middle wall were opened towards the garden and designed in a purist modern way. All materials were chosen to match the existing style, with new bathrooms, for instance, using “breccia dorata”, an Italian stone in use since Roman times. A site has been prepared on the roof for photovoltaic cells to be mounted, as soon as economically viable.