The preconditions for this low cost project were almost unique. The commission was made directly by the client, there were no aesthetic preconditions nor was it necessary to react during the planning phase to design interventions by the tenants - which can often be so wearing. Only such as the rust-red coloured painting of the staircases, originally the anthracite coloured painting of changes did not reduce or weaken the specific character of the building. This character is a result of the severe language both of form and materials and of the self-confident placing of the building in the semi-urban area of the Graz suburbs, which exudes peace and a self-evident quality.
The sliding elements used as sun and visual protection, made either of galvanised expanded metal or strung with a nylon fabric, are the moments of movement in the static system of the building. Riegler/Riewe deliberately did not create a relationship between the building and its surroundings by, say, laying out small gardens or making balconies as, firstly, they wanted to give all storeys equal significance and secondly, due to the location of the housing block in relatively green surroundings, they saw no necessity to create individual gardens. Instead the block was placed on a two metre wide concrete strip which runs around the building in order to provide space for (semi)public functions.

A green strip was laid out on one of the long sides of the building which, separated form the level of the building by a wall, merges into a large concrete area beneath which the car parking spaces are located.

Arno Ritter