Completed in July 2016, Hummelkaserne was the first phase of Graz’s special municipal housing programme. Built on the former barracks site at Maria-Pachleitner-Straße 22–28, near the Peter Rosegger nursing home, it forms part of the Reininghaus urban development area. 12
The developer and building owner was ENW – Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH. The four six-storey passive-house buildings were designed by sps architekten zt gmbh and constructed with solid timber, including larch cross-laminated timber. Together, they provide 92 apartments, ranging from compact studios to four-room homes. 12
The project’s construction ran from January 2015 to July 2016 and cost €9.8 million. It covers an 11,021-square-metre site, with 8,003 square metres of gross floor area. Reported energy performance is 9 kWh per square metre per year. Building systems include photovoltaic panels, heat recovery and controlled ventilation; shared amenities include a community room and bicycle workshops. The site also has a shared underground garage, with one space per apartment, visitor parking and play areas. 1
At the time of completion, the city reported rent of about €6.70 per square metre, including operating costs and heating. The city’s announcement identified the project as the first part of its special housing programme; a further 500 municipal apartments were then in progress. 1