Cut into the terrain at an intersection, a new type of grocery store has been developed to serve the purposes of two different building contractors: A kind of covered marketplace – similar to the historic Rialto fish market in Venice – has been created below a large elevated building structure. Within this structure the 300 seat Cantina, a Casino, the kitchens and the company doctor’s office are accommodated. It also features a generous south facing covered terrace for the Jenbacher Werke.
The shop-floor itself is covered by a 22m column-free spanned ceiling, despite the considerable live load of the upper story. Pre-stressed TT ceiling elements are notched at their supporting ends to create the impression of a “floating” ceiling. Staggered light bars create a luminous ceiling with a certain “Moiré-Effekt”, enhancing the airiness even further.
The walls in the Cantina – floor are entirely made from precast wooden elements. So is the ceiling, whose primary supporting structure consists of trussed steel beams. All disposal pipes are integrated in the columns in a 7.5 x 22 m grid. The outer skin of the building, made from anthracite-colored Eternit, contrasts the reddish three-layered larch wood panels. The terrace and the outer staircase have been suspended from the roof girders to reduce the moment of span.
