One of the most pleasant and interesting places to live and just visit in Vienna is called Zargfabrik - "coffin factory" - and is located in the western part of the city, in the 14th district of Penzing. To rent a room or apartment in this residential complex, you will have to stand in a long queue - which is not surprising, given the moderate rent and the presence in the complex of such components as its own kindergarten, cultural center, restaurant, seminar room, library, gardens and vegetable gardens on the roof, playgrounds and even a pool.
In the mid-1980s, a few friends decided to band together against the overpricing of the Viennese property market, which also offered housing exclusively for traditional families, to create a cooperative where everyone, regardless of their lifestyle and cultural preferences, would have a place. They came up with a name for themselves - the Association for an Integrated Lifestyle - and in 1996 their idea turned from utopia to reality. First, the cooperative bought out the former Julius Mascher & Sohne coffin factory (or simply Zargfabrik, Sargfabrik - “coffin factory”), and then turned to the architectural studio BKK-2 for a project to transform it into a new residential complex with 73 apartments (for 150 adults and 60 children or adolescents). In 2000, Zargfabrik had a "younger sister" - Miss Sargfabrik with 39 apartments.
The Zargfabrik is officially registered as a hostel, which avoids the standard Austrian proportion of 1 parking space per family and instead uses 1 parking space per 10 families, instilling a culture of car-sharing or cycling among residents. Therefore, they did not build a large underground parking, but spent the money saved in this way on public spaces and the creation, for example, of a wonderful bathing center, which only elite housing can usually boast of. The planning in Zargfabrik was also approached much more freely, since strict housing regulations do not apply to the design of hostels. In addition, the cooperative managed to obtain financial support from the city council.
A person who settled in a cooperative regularly contributes a certain amount to the maintenance of the complex - on the basis of rent. If he decides to move out, his apartment is returned to the ownership of the members of the association. In addition, there is a special fund in Zargfabrik, where wealthy residents can donate money to support low-income residents. All important decisions regarding the budget, cultural and social programs and other topics are usually made collegially at the meetings of the association twice a year.
The Zargfabrik project was conceived as a “city within a city” and really includes everything you need for everyday life - and much more. For example, there is a cultural center with a hall for 300 spectators with a transformable space, special lighting and acoustic systems for concerts, theatrical performances, and so on. It is very popular not only among the residents of the Zargfabrik, but also among the inhabitants of the entire West of Vienna.
The kindergarten of the complex is designed for 60 children aged 3-10 years. Children here are divided into 3 groups, each of which is taught by educators with their native German, Turkish, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian languages. It is easy to guess that in the kindergarten Zargfabrik they adhere to the methods of education of Maria Montessori.
The seminar room with an area of 104 m2 can accommodate 80 people. Workshops, meetings and even therapy sessions can be held here. The hall is located on the ground floor of the complex, which makes it more accessible for people with disabilities.
The cafe-restaurant serves international cuisine as well as food from a special vegetarian menu. It has a small garden, where in warm weather both residents of the complex and visitors from outside love to sit. Of course, having your own cafe-restaurant is very convenient for residents and pays off, as visitors of events come here in different halls of Zargfabrik, and it is here that food for the kindergarten is prepared.
One of the most attractive parts of the Zargfabrik is a bathing complex with a Finnish sauna, cool water pool, tepidarium, heated pool and wave machine, jacuzzi, Kneipp foot bath and three other bathrooms. All this splendor works daily and is open 24 hours. The bathing complex always has slightly dim lighting, creating a relaxed atmosphere. On certain days of the week, a variety of events are held here: spa relaxation nights for women only, for women and men, or for gay people only. Maintaining the free spirit of Zargfabrik, any visitor can swim either clothed or completely naked at will.
Approximately half of the complex's employees are at the same time its residents, and absolutely all public premises here are barrier-free. From the original building of the factory for the manufacture of coffins, today there is practically nothing left, except for a chimney, a column pitch of 4.8 m and a ceiling height of 2.26 m. The authors of the project explain this by the fact that the building was in an extremely dilapidated state, and it was easier radically alter than renovate. The architecture of the living space in Zargfabrik differs from Miss Sargfabrik, but both buildings develop the idea of mobility and openness. In the 1996 project, the minimum size of an apartment for one person is 32 m2, and the maximum size for 8 adults and 6 children is 400 m2. The layout of the orange residential block is based on a system of easily modifiable cell-modules, which, if necessary, allows them to be combined into larger spaces of various configurations. Each living room here overlooks the courtyard through large glass windows: according to the architects' design, this enhances a sense of community in the cooperative. In the courtyard there is a biotope pond, and on the roof of the block there is a small garden with residents' gardens.
The Miss Sargfabrik building was built in 2000 according to the design of the BKK-3 bureau (slightly changed in the composition of the BKK-2 bureau). Like its predecessor, it has received a bright orange color of the facades, which contrasts sharply with the earthy hues of the surrounding buildings. When creating the layout, the architects were guided by the desire of the members of the cooperative to have apartments that are not similar to each other with a free plan. Here, for example, there are sloped floors, walls and ceilings, some of the apartments are equipped for home offices and workshops, there are apartments for people with disabilities. Vertical circulation is carried out by two lifts, and horizontal circulation is carried out through five open balconies-galleries, stretching along the entire length of Miss Sargfabrik: all rooms go there. Everyone who walks along such a balcony can see what is happening in the apartments. Residents of Miss Sargfabrik - usually relatives of Sargfabrik residents - can enjoy all the benefits of the complex.
The Zargfabrik project in Vienna is a must-see and study for specialists in the field of architecture, psychology and sociology. His manifesto says that residents are not at all obliged to participate in the public life of the complex, but if they still want to, they will always be welcome. The project is undoubtedly good for retirees: due to their age, they do not always want to leave the house, but there is everything they need and, moreover, they are always ready to solve any problems absolutely free of charge. The complex is also convenient for people with disabilities, since all the premises are fully accessible to them, including the pool, and they will always be surrounded by the attention of the rest of the residents. In addition, which is important for Vienna, where you can get to a kindergarten only by enrolling in it a couple of years in advance, each tenant automatically receives a place in the complex's own kindergarten.
But if you are not looking for contact with people, then perhaps this place is not for you: after all, here you will surely be bombarded with invitations to joint dinners, they will persistently bring pieces of homemade pie and invite you to dance at a local party, and passing through the gallery past your windows - smile and wave your hand in greeting.
During the reign of the Habsburgs, this factory was the largest in Austria-Hungary - with the most beautiful and original models of coffins, which were in great demand not only at home, but also abroad. It is surprising that today Zargfabrik is no less remarkable - although in a completely different way, and for sure its story is not over yet.
