Sargfabrik: is a self-administered housing project with cultural-political aspirations.
The project Sargfabrik was realised by the non-profit association Integrative Lebensgestaltung (VIL) in Vienna’s 14th district and in the tradition of “Red Vienna” (German: “Rotes Wien”). With the aim of sharing resources, a lively community was created in the building of the former coffin factory on up to five floors with various cultural, leisure and recreational facilities such as a roof garden, bathhouse, seminar room, canteen and daycare center. The wide range of communal services and advantages under subsidy law were made possible by the legal form as a “residential home”.
Flexible rooms were built for the various forms of living and working. In addition, central supply corridors enable individual units to be combined or separated at a later date. Large window fronts and the original preserved ceiling height of up to 4.50 m create bright and transparent living spaces. Offering views into the flat, conveys a certain openness. Another architectural prominent feature are the balconies, which stand out from the rest of the façade with their concrete railings angled forward. The opposite running pergola serves as access to the apartments and has railings with viewing slits at eye level for wheelchair users. In this way, the barrier-free design of the Sargfabrik contributes to the integration of people with special needs. At present, about 200 people live in the Sargfabrik in various forms of housing. These include sheltered housing, a residential community for people with special needs, and short-term housing options with fixed-term rental contracts for refugees, for example. The laundry room, which is centrally located in the building, serves as a place of gathering and social exchange.
Rooftop garden © Felix Vollmann 
Street view © Michael Prytula 
Entrance situation © Michael Prytula 
Sargfabrik: A row of several connected buildings © Michael Prytula 
Inner courtyard © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Different levels of development © Felix Vollmann 
Pergolas © Felix Vollmann 
Connection of building © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Different access levels from the inside of the building complex © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Common roof terrace © Michael Prytula 
Roof terrace and photovoltaics © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Community garden on the roof © Marlene Hildebrandt 
second entrance/exit of the Sargfabrik © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Extension of the project Sargfabrik in 2000: Miss Sargfabrik © Marlene Hildebrandt 
Shared space of the Miss Sargfabrik: library, laundry, kitchen and seminar room © Michael Prytula
General information
| Architects | BKK-2 Architects |
| Owner | Verein für Integrative Lebensgestaltung – VIL (association) |
| Address | Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Vienna, Austria |
| Construction period | 1994 – 1996 |
| Construction | (reconstruction) Combination of reinforced concrete and lightweight construction |
| Residents | 112 living units with 200 people |
| Space | 4700 m2 |
Sources
ARGE Stiftung (2016): Generationen Wohnen – Schlagwort oder Konzept? Retrieved from: https://www.age-stiftung.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/Weitere_Publikationen/2016_GenerationenWohnen_Exkursion_Wien_WEB.pdf (03.09.2021)
Sargfabrik (2021): Sargfabrik – Raum Für Mehr. Retrieved from: https://sargfabrik.at/assets/documents/vil/sf_Imagefolder_210x792mm_Leporello_digital.pdf (01.11.2021)
Sargfabrik (n.y.): Raum für Wohnen – Organisationsform. Retrieved from https://sargfabrik.at/wohnen/organisationsform (29.09.2021)