Neubau Gemeindeamt Waldegg by ArchitekturWerkstatt

The basic form of the municipal office is a longhouse with a gable roof sloping at approximately 45°, a feature derived from the earlier linear farmsteads. The choice of timber construction was based on the name of the market town of Waldegg – meaning ‘the forest’ – and on the high degree of prefabrication, resulting in a shorter on-site construction phase. A solid core serves as thermal mass.

The purlin roof trusses also support the massive wall panels, which are approximately 11 meters high. All load-bearing walls are constructed using timber framing, while non-load-bearing interior walls are drywall. The floor slabs are made of solid wood, with varying thicknesses depending on the span. Only the ceiling above the ground floor corridor is part of the solid, reinforced concrete core. The ventilated façade features both wood and metal shingles that extend from the ridge to the ground, reinforcing the building’s clean geometry. Timber construction is also used in the interior.

The majority of the ceiling was clad with wooden acoustic panels, a wooden wall unit was installed in the ground floor hallway to provide additional storage, and wooden windows, industrial parquet flooring, and several custom-made carpentry pieces were also incorporated. The project was nominated for the Lower Austrian Timber Construction Prize 2025 and achieved second place (honorable mention) among public buildings. 198 m³ (approximately 198 tons of CO₂ saved).