The Existing as a Resource:
Adapting the Europa-Pavillon in Vienna for Living
90s Building, Adaptive Reuse, Reuse on Site, Minimal Demolition, Mixed-use, Barrier-Free Housing
TU Wien, 2022, Diploma Thesis
Advisor: Tina Gregorič
Project: Pamela Maldonado Vallejos
This diploma challenges the declared obsolescence of the now-demolished 23 years old Europa-Pavillon in Vienna and proposes an alternative to total demolition.
The combination of adaptive reuse and material reuse is used to extend the life of the building. Two critical principles accompany the design process: first, avoid demolition as much as possible, and second, use the reusability potential of materials and components to guide the design decisions.
This approach results in approximately 80% of the building remaining on site. Around 60% of the extracted components are relocated on-site and integrated into the new design. The Europa-Pavillon adaptation offers barrier-free housing, ateliers, and working spaces. A new floor adds more density and provides new typologies within the existing constraints.
