Glanhof is an ambitious residential project in the center of Klagenfurt, along the busy Pischelsdorfer Straße and near the Glan River. One of the guiding principles of the design was to facilitate synergies among the building’s users and to focus on the realization of high-quality communal spaces, where interaction between young and old can take place.

Living together
The government-funded residential complex with 150 apartment units was built in two phases. 16 of the units were purposefully designed for senior citizens, 32 for single mothers or fathers. The communal areas, including a café, event rooms and storage areas for children’s pushchairs and bicycles, are located on the ground floor and were designed as transparently as possible to support communication and interaction between residents.

Solar energy and brine reservoir
To optimize the energy efficiency and to offer shade to the residents, hundreds of rotating photovoltaic panels were attached to the building’s façade. Whenever the panels respond to a gentle breeze, the whole façade appears like a slow rolling wave. On the inside, on the contrary, the buildings are designed to be contemplative and quiet with generous balconies. The Glanhof is an almost energy-autonomous residential building, using a brine reservoir storing excess photovoltaic solar energy during the months of sunshine.