A story of sustainability
Wienerberg City is a relatively new district in Austria’s capital characterised by modern skyscrapers. One of those is Monte Verde (Italian for “green mountain”), a high-rise apartment block. The ceramic finish to the longer sides lends it a certain presence, a certain look. The building was completed back in 2004, but the reason why it has become a topic of conversation again in this heavily built-up area is the exemplary quality of life and the sustainability still achieved after 18 years in an urban setting due to the ecological building material used on the facades.
Monte Verde is an intense green edifice that rises 77 m into the sky. Its 27 storeys are located at one of Vienna’s highest points, in the Wienerberg City district very close to the recreational area of the same name. This residential tower with its 188 apartments was completed in 2004. The striking appearance of the longer sides facing east and west is due to the ceramic facades supplied by Agrob Buchtal in a bespoke green colour specially produced by the ceramic specialist for the architects. “The colour stands for nature, freshness and life, and has a calming, positive effect,” says the tower’s architect, Albert Wimmer. “Seen in the context of the high-rise ensemble at this location, it adopts an elegant posture.” That ensemble includes the glass Twin Towers 127 and 138 m high. Albert Wimmer incorporated their transparency by designing the narrow north and south sides of the Monte Verde tower as double-skin glass facades with loggias and balconies.
The owner, the “Wien-Süd” housing cooperative, only has to clean the narrow glass facades. The ceramic panels from Agrob Buchtal employ Hytect technology, which not only reduces the operating costs, but is also ecological and sustainable, because chemical cleaners are not needed to keep the ceramic panels clean. That works as follows: Nanoparticles of titanium oxide are burned into the ceramic surface at high temperatures. The titanium oxide functions like a catalyser that initiates a reaction between light, oxygen and the moisture in the air as soon as the tiles are exposed to sunlight. The oxygen activated in this way decomposes microorganisms such as bacteria, mould, algae, moss or germs and hinders their growth. And because Hytect tiles are also hydrophilic, dust, dirt and other particles are washed off the facade every time it rains. So they clean themselves. In addition, photocatalysis reduces nitrogen oxides and other pollutants emitted by traffic or industry. This is good for the urban climate, particularly in a heavily built-up city such as Vienna.
“Even after 20 years, the green facade looks like new, is still fresh and clean and lends the entire structure a high-class look,” says Albert Wimmer. Benedikt Hartmann from the “Wien-Süd” housing cooperative confirms this: “The ceramic tiles are still in an excellent condition. Cleaning requirements are minimal, only occasional special cleaning being necessary.” For example, an overflow from the flat roof led to limescale deposits, which were then easily cleaned off following the installation of a rainwater downpipe. The colour has not changed either. “Over the years, one or other ceramic panel has had to be renewed,” says Mr Hartmann. “The replacement panels, which are stored in a dark basement room, cannot be distinguished from the original ones.”
By the way, the colour scheme inside the building is also green. “The residential tower is permeated by green inner spaces in the form of atria,” explains Albert Wimmer. And within this structure there are also gardens to enjoy. Besides the communal amenities, which in some cases extend over more than one storey, there are also several leisure areas – including a solar-heated swimming pool on the roof, from where there are views to the wide expanses of the Vienna Basin.
