Georg W. Reinberg, Vienna

Austrian architect Georg W. Reinberg has for many years applied an ecological approach to architecture entailing the active or passive use of solar energy, the promotion of healthy materials and prefabricated structure, geothermia and green roofs on a daily basis in his lectures and courses on solar architecture that he gives throughout the world.  From holiday homes to social housing, office buildings to SME headquarters, the same credo applies everywhere:  reconcile the quality of the construction, economic balance and environmental protection.  The images are as different as the solutions, of course, but the rationale of sustainable development is pursued with dogged determination at all times.  All the architect’s projects since he established his firm in 1982 – about 90 in all – meet high ecological requirements.  With Marta Enriquez Reinberg and his associates, he continues and increases the experiments.  Such research projects are conducted with specialists usually to assess concrete projects and to find new applications. 
It is no accident that Austria remains one of the leading countries in terms of deliberately simple yet innovative architectural models, with frugal use of materials and energy with a view to sustainability. 

1. Georg W. Reinberg
2. Holiday Resort Development, Jois 2001
Exemplary project that has been featured in numerous publications, the Jois Holiday Resort Development is a set of holiday houses built on piles. The construction principle shows a core made of concrete, completed by prefabricated elements in highly insulated wood and weatherboarding in matching larch on the terraces. Other strong points: good natural ventilation and solar heating panels.
3. Sonnenkraft, St. Veit/Glan 2002
The building gives a good image of Sonnenkraft, a company active in solar technology: glazed surfaces for passive solar use and more modern collectors. It is worth pointing out the metal frame on the south side with photovoltaic elements used as a conductor for mobile solar shading.
4. Headquarters of Biotop, Weidling 2003
Winner of the Fassa Bortolo international competition.
Built fully respectful of the environment, the headquarters of this firm that specialises in natural swimming pools is a sterling example of an ecological project (vegetated roof, recycling of the water, solar collectors). Made of wood and glass panels, the building boasts a thermal muss wall structured as a solar energy accumulation system. The south façade affords a panoramic view onto the swimming pond and the garden and features adjustable Venetian blinds.
5. Passive house, Tattendorf 2004
A new passive house design that uses ecological construction techniques. Pollution is reduced by the choice of materials: wood, straw and earth. Nevertheless, the thermal insulation, opaque elements, glazing and heating correspond to the passive house standards. Photovoltaic elements on the south side cover the electric power needs.
6. Thürnlhofstrasse/Roschégasse social housing, Vienna 2005
In cooperation with Peter Thalbauer
These social housing units situated at the outskirts of Vienna cover a built area of 6,090 m˛. Two blocks have been developed pursuant to their particular urban features. One consists of duplex, extensively glazed apartments, that includes a winter garden that serves as a buffer for the cold or the heat.
7. Modena office building project
One of Georg Reinberg’s latest projects was developed in Italy. This Eco office building, the works on which are to start soon, is situated in an industrial estate where two busy routes cross. Featuring favourable acoustic conditions and an organic, constantly changing form, it must also be considered for its ecological aspects, in particular solar installations.