Living and Working on Site

The project explores the potential of mixed-use productive neighborhoods for the regeneration of infrastructural sites by reintegrating productive industry into the urban context. It also showcases how different forms of living can respond to the radical mix of functions through specific orientation and precise layout organization.

The 2.1-hectare former railway site is located approximately one kilometer west of the old town, diagonally across from the Passau main train station. \nIt is situated in a mixed-use area between large-scale commercial buildings and small-scale residential buildings. \nThe design explores the potential of a mixed-use, productive neighborhood to bring back productive industries into the urban context. \nThe coexistence of residential and commercial spaces is seen as an opportunity for a diverse and vivid neighborhood. \nThe central platform, reminiscent of old loading ramps, serves as the central access and meeting area. \nNine buildings are arranged so that the spaces between them are alternately assigned to living or working with workshops and a truck delivery zone in the north and a continuous community garden in the south. \nDifferent building volumes and roof shapes provide clues to the distribution of use within the buildings. \nThe double height ground floors inhabit spaces for production, community and commerce.\nThe densities of the structure correspond to the scale of each use. Large scale structures for production densify where access and ancillary spaces are located. At these points the building structure rises, accommodating spaces for living on the upper floors. \nThe layouts of the apartments respond to the special location next to the railway tracks, the direct proximity to productive industries and the resulting noise emissions from the north. \nAll apartments are organized in a way that no room is exclusively located on the north facade and each apartment is illuminated from at least two sides. \nThree different floor plan typologies are planned in detail, demonstrating that living in such an environment can be an offer to a broad population.\nSpaces for production, living, commerce and leisure are equally seen as a substantial part of the urban fabric. \nDue to the high density of uses the resource of space is used in a more efficient way. \nLiving and working in such a diverse and productive environment may support collaboration and innovation, as well as a deeper connection to the neighborhood.