LOBMEYRHOF
Modern, yet with all the splendour of the past
Dating back to the late 19th century, the Lobmeyrhof housing estate in the 16th municipal district is a pioneering example of social housing construction in Vienna. The Lobmeyrhof estate was built between 1898 and 1901 as one of the first large-scale social housing projects. Erected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the accession of Emperor Francis Joseph I to the throne, it is a precursor of the “Red Vienna” social housing estates of the 1920s and 1930s.
The building, which originally accommodated around 150 dwellings and ground-floor shops, boasts a spacious interior courtyard, a typical characteristic of municipal housing estates. Due to its historical context, it is listed as a monument worthy of protection. Close co-operation between the architects and the Federal Monuments Authority permitted a striking intervention in the existing building stock.
At the beginning of the rehabilitation project, the building was virtually uninhabited. Larger sections facing the interior courtyard were demolished; new staircases and lifts were installed, resulting in a significant increase of useful floorspace. The street fronts were restored to their original splendour. The new staircases and lifts allow for barrier-free access to all dwellings. The attic was converted to accommodate two more storeys with lofts, thus creating potential for additional new flats. The old trees in the spacious courtyard were preserved and contribute to high quality of life.
Today, the Lobmeyrhof estate comprises a total of 175 modern flats, both new and renovated. Since district heating and a ventilation system with heat recovery were implemented, the housing estate moreover boasts a building energy-consumption status in the “low” category.