At the Austrian Steel Construction Awards in Graz at the beginning of May, the HELIX office and hotel building designed by kadawittfeldarchitektur received recognition in the category âLightness with Steelâ. âThe architectural concept of âliftingâ a three-storey structure off the ground is achieved with an elegant steel construction that shimmers through the glass façade,â said the jury. The prize is awarded every two years. One of its aims is to document the architectural and technical potential of steel construction by honouring outstanding and innovative projects. The structural design of the building was carried out by @Herbrich Consult ZT GmbH, and the steel construction by @Metallica Stahl- und Fassadentechnik GmbH. The client was Planquadr.at EuropastraĂe GmbH & Co.KG.
HELIX is located in Salzburg near the A1 motorway and is characterised by three ring-shaped upper floors that appear to float above a base. A large open staircase leads to the prestigious âbel Ă©tageâ, which will become a central meeting place with a hotel and office lobby as well as restaurants. The ring-shaped structure above creates a surrounding image that is visible from the motorway. Offices and hotel rooms are located on the upper floors and offer a 360° view of Salzburg and the inner garden.
The âfloating ring complexâ, constructed as a steel composite structure, rests on the reinforced concrete structure of the lower floors. The ring structure consists of three-storey trusses on the inner and outer façades, which rest indirectly on four stair cores and one inclined support at each of the âpointed endsâ. In the cross-section of the ring structure, the ceilings are supported by composite beams spanning three storeys between the half-timbered structures. The choice of a composite construction resulted in a significant reduction in weight compared to solid construction methods, which enabled pile-free foundations.
Image: ©Herbrich Consult
