Museum Inatura in Dornbirn
Development had already reached the area surrounding the Rüschwerke in Dornbirn, when operations were suspended at the heavy industry plant. Reducing the structure to essential building units and adapting it to a culturally used space housing the regional natural history museum Inatura lent the premises, encompassed by an urban park, an appealing and ambiguous aura. The interior design utilizes the large spaces, while being individually organized on multiple levels.
The architecture of early historical industrial buildings follows a rigid and at the same time well-proportioned and appealing classicist style. The complex is complemented by a connecting structure stilted on a concrete panel and clad in pre-rusted steel plates. The second annex at the front side of the building has been crafted from the same material.
It features a biomass heating unit that supplies the museum building and surrounding municipal buildings with heat energy. The two other new building sections extend across the rear courtyard and sport offices. A corridor links them to the old sections of the hall. Their autonomy is emphasized by the upper level that protrudes above a glazed ground floor and which is screened with textiles on all sides.
Client FM Hämmerle Holding AG; City Dornbirn
Location A-6850 Dornbirn, Jahngasse 9
Project management T. Weber, S. Hiebeler Construction 2001-2003
Floor space 4,600 m2
Volume 29,800 m3
Building costs 11 million Euro
Awards 2003 Bauherrenpreis Österreich (Client Award Austria)
Partner Site management: Hassler, Dornbirn
Museum design: rwdp, London
Landscape architecture: Rotzler Krebs, Winterthur
Structural engineering: Pfefferkorn, Dornbirn
Building services: Moser, etc.
