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Training swimming hall Großfeldsiedlung – sustainable timber construction for urban infrastructure
Project data at a glance
• Location: Vienna, Austria
• Project type: Extension of an existing indoor swimming pool as part of the “Bäderstrategie 2030” (“Public Swimming Pool Strategy 2030”)
• Use: School, club and recreational sports
• Measure: New construction of a training swimming hall including a sustainable refurbishment strategy for existing facilities
• Bauweise: Timber hybrid structure with a focus on energy efficiency and daylight utilization
• Architecture: fasch&fuchs.architekten / PLOV Architekten
• Concept: Prototypical, modular approach for further locations in Vienna Standorte in Wien (e.g. Simmering, Döbling, both districts of Vienna)
• Award: Winner of wienwood 2024
As part of Vienna’s “Bäderstrategie 2030” (“Public Swimming Pool Strategy 2030”), the existing Großfeldsiedlung indoor pool was expanded with a new training swimming hall. The goal was to create a forward-looking infrastructure project that combines ecological construction methods, social usability and urban design quality. The swimming hall is used for school, club and recreational sports and is part of a standardized refurbishment concept for several similar pools in Vienna.
Timber hybrid construction with a model character
The new building was developed by fasch&fuchs.architekten and PLOV Architekten as a prototypical timber hybrid structure. The design combines daylight utilization, energy-efficient building services, barrier-free access as well as urban planning measures such as the unsealing of surfaces, light-colored façades for heat reflection and greened building elements.
These elements strengthen the holistic sustainability approach and make the hall a model project for further locations in Vienna, including Simmering and Döbling (both districts of Vienna).
The project was awarded the wienwood 2024 prize, highlighting its importance for timber construction in the public sector.
Glulam in visual quality for high-quality timber construction projects
For the load-bearing elements, the HASSLACHER group supplied a total of 85 m³ of glulam in visual quality, produced at the Hermagor site (HASSLACHER Holzbausysteme GmbH). Part of the components were manufactured with camber, a technical pre-curvature that anticipates the expected deflection under load and compensates for it optimally.
The roof concept is well suited to large-scale sports facilities, swimming pools and hall buildings because it balances resource efficiency with cost effectiveness. Camber improves the final deformation and enables large spans without intermediate supports, which is essential for timber sports halls. At the same time, it expands architectural design possibilities, allowing for generous, open spatial concepts without disruptive interruptions.
Protection and appearance through high-quality timber surfaces
Two proven products from Adler Lacke were used to finish the timber surfaces: a single coat of Adler Lignovit IG as a primer to protect against moisture, and a double coat of Adler Lignovit UV 100 “Großglockner”, which provides long-term UV protection and preserves the light appearance of the spruce timber. The surface is slightly white-lasered without covering the natural character of the wood.
This combination ensures long-term resistance to weather influences during installation and UV exposure, while guaranteeing a consistent, high-quality appearance – a key quality feature for public timber buildings.
HASSLACHER group as a reliable partner for demanding infrastructure projects
As one of the leading suppliers in European timber construction, the HASSLACHER group demonstrates its expertise in sustainable and innovative timber construction projects with this development.
The Großfeldsiedlung training swimming hall illustrates how timber construction, sustainability, urban infrastructure and sports hall construction can be effectively combined, setting new standards for timber sports halls in Austria.
| Project information | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Vienna, Austria |
| Customer: | Holzbau Ratten |
| Architect or planner: | ARGE illiz Wien/Zürich |
| Design and construction: | Plantec Dr. Christian Rehbichler |
| Builder: | Stadt Wien – Bäder |
| Year of building: | 2023 |
| Used wooden products: | 85 m³ of visual-grade glulam, partly with camber, finished with one coat of Adler Lignovit IG and two coats of Adler Lignovit UV 100 in the color "Großglockner" |
| Sites HASSLACHER group: | HASSLACHER Holzbausysteme GmbH, Hermagor |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the advantages of glulam in sports buildings? Glulam is particularly suitable for large halls, as high load-bearing capacities and large spans can be achieved without additional supports due to its low self-weight. At the same time, the structure remains visible and contributes to architectural quality.
What does “camber” mean in timber components? Camber refers to a deliberate pre-curvature of load-bearing components subjected to bending. It compensates for later deformation under load and ensures that the structure achieves an optimal shape in its final condition. Typically, deflections caused by permanent loads are anticipated using this technique.
How are timber surfaces protected? The timber elements are treated in multiple layers: a primer protects against moisture, while an additional coating ensures permanent UV protection and preserves the visual quality.
What is the significance of the project for Vienna? The training swimming hall is part of the “Bäderstrategie 2030” (“Public Swimming Pool Strategy 2030”) and serves as a model project for future refurbishments and expansions of sports infrastructure in the city.
