Project description by jury

The project brings retailer IKEA to the center of Vienna, rethinking the big box (megastore) typology. In stark contrast to other retail centers of this kind that are usually located on the outskirts of urban centers, this project is the first full-size IKEA store to open in the heart of a city, rethinking urban planning practices and reducing the proliferation of suburban strip malls. Typologically, the building is conceived as flexible infrastructure, easily adaptable for future changes and for other tenants. The steel structure is also an easily demountable and recyclable system.

As a Main category prize winner in the regional Holcim Awards 2020, Integrated Big Box in Austria automatically qualified as a finalist in the Global Holcim Awards 2021.

View Global Holcim Awards Entry – Integrated Big Box in Austria

The built environment has a significant role to play in addressing climate change and enabling the transition to a net-zero and more inclusive future. The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction global winners showcase the cutting edge of approaches to sustainable design, green architecture, and materials innovation. In the 6th cycle, a project from Switzerland won the Gold Award at both the regional and global levels. The global prizes were presented at a handover ceremony at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy. The regional Holcim Awards Main category winners for Europe were recognized at the same event.

Living Green

The number of trees on our building is much more than on the site itself might have found place. Literally, we lifted the park with trees up to a height of more than 30 meters, and additionally used all 4 facades to grow a lot of additional trees. It is functional green, for shading and local cooling, as well as emotional green, giving the eye and soul a good place to rest, in the middle of the vibrant town.

• IKEA Vienna 3 consumes little energy. Only 18 kWh/ma district heat for space heating and hot water. Only 12 kWh/ma electric energy supply for space cooling good daylight supply from the façade as well as high quality LED lighting.
• IKEA Vienna 3 is operated free from fossil energy carriers. Heat from district heating system, fed from waste incineration and excess heat from cogeneration power plants. Cooling comes from highly efficient chillers, together with the benefits from a high temperature cooling device such as the concrete ceiling.
• IKEA Vienna 3 is built as a lean structure, systematically reducing embodied resources.