Construction and functionality
The apartments on the contrary observe the ‘golden’ principle of the open areas facing the street: Organized in pairs they are accessible via a central platform stair, which from the first storey upwards projects from the building mass as a filigree, seemingly weightless structure. The balustrade is reticulated, like in the courtyard office building; the bottom plates and balcony parapets are made from fair-faced concrete, which can hardly be distinguished from the façade’s gold-coloured metal coating.
The two-storied penthouse forms the crowning termination, which offers wonderful views to the surrounding from its generous terrace that stretches across the complete depth.
Achitectural appeal
The apartments address a clientele, who esteem the value of the architecture and appreciate the unconventional, well cut and flexible living environments. Despite the site of the district, in which the ‘Golden Nugget’ is located, amongst property experts is considered as not being a top location, it means a considerable added value for the occupants: Transparency and openness of continuous floor-to-ceiling window areas on the side deliberately turned towards the public view, which suggest communication – the façade as shop window, internally as well as externally.
At the ‘International City Forum Congress’ it was presented as an ‘outstanding example for the treatment of modern architecture in historical urban districts’.
Construction and functionality
The apartments on the contrary observe the ‘golden’ principle of the open areas facing the street: Organized in pairs they are accessible via a central platform stair, which from the first storey upwards projects from the building mass as a filigree, seemingly weightless structure. The balustrade is reticulated, like in the courtyard office building; the bottom plates and balcony parapets are made from fair-faced concrete, which can hardly be distinguished from the façade’s gold-coloured metal coating.
The two-storied penthouse forms the crowning termination, which offers wonderful views to the surrounding from its generous terrace that stretches across the complete depth.
Achitectural appeal
The apartments address a clientele, who esteem the value of the architecture and appreciate the unconventional, well cut and flexible living environments. Despite the site of the district, in which the ‘Golden Nugget’ is located, amongst property experts is considered as not being a top location, it means a considerable added value for the occupants: Transparency and openness of continuous floor-to-ceiling window areas on the side deliberately turned towards the public view, which suggest communication – the façade as shop window, internally as well as externally.
At the ‘International City Forum Congress’ it was presented as an ‘outstanding example for the treatment of modern architecture in historical urban districts’.
Golden Nugget – a puzzle infill project
Location and material
The Golden Nugget’ building is located on the edge of Graz’ historic district of the town, which is classified as World Cultural Heritage.
The external texture of the house is a laminar net from shinning gold-coloured copper tiles. The façade ‘envelope’ becomes the roof, evenly covered with a net from gold-coloured copper. It connects the neighbouring Wilhelminian style buildings painted in yellow hues, closing the street front as a homogeneous entity.
The staggering of the new building contour also mediates between the adjoining houses of various heights. Invisible from the outside remains the courtyard building dating from the 18th century. It was restored and coated with a gold-coloured paint – a ‘gold coat’ – that symbolically conserves the building for the ensuing ages.
Concept
The collaboration of the architects and project developers Andreas Reiter, Peter Schwaiger, Martin Lesjak, and Bernd Steinhuber began during a design seminar at Graz University. Here they had got to know and regard each other, before they founded the architectural practice Innocad in 1999, after passing their diploma. As luck would have it, all of them had individually dealt with the narrow building site of the ‘Golden Nugget’ during their studies.
Four different design concepts had been developed. The ‘Golden Nugget’ is the first building the four architects have realized at their own risk and for which they especially founded the project development firm 99 Plus.
This building in Graz, Austria, designed by and containing the office of Innocad Architects, embodies corporate identity and is simultaneously a residential block that glamorously presents itself in its neighbouring urban fabric characterized by the Wilhelminian style.
Golden Nugget – a puzzle infill project
Location and material
The Golden Nugget’ building is located on the edge of Graz’ historic district of the town, which is classified as World Cultural Heritage.
The external texture of the house is a laminar net from shinning gold-coloured copper tiles. The façade ‘envelope’ becomes the roof, evenly covered with a net from gold-coloured copper. It connects the neighbouring Wilhelminian style buildings painted in yellow hues, closing the street front as a homogeneous entity.
The staggering of the new building contour also mediates between the adjoining houses of various heights. Invisible from the outside remains the courtyard building dating from the 18th century. It was restored and coated with a gold-coloured paint – a ‘gold coat’ – that symbolically conserves the building for the ensuing ages.
Concept
The collaboration of the architects and project developers Andreas Reiter, Peter Schwaiger, Martin Lesjak, and Bernd Steinhuber began during a design seminar at Graz University. Here they had got to know and regard each other, before they founded the architectural practice Innocad in 1999, after passing their diploma. As luck would have it, all of them had individually dealt with the narrow building site of the ‘Golden Nugget’ during their studies.
Four different design concepts had been developed. The ‘Golden Nugget’ is the first building the four architects have realized at their own risk and for which they especially founded the project development firm 99 Plus.
This building in Graz, Austria, designed by and containing the office of Innocad Architects, embodies corporate identity and is simultaneously a residential block that glamorously presents itself in its neighbouring urban fabric characterized by the Wilhelminian style.
Interior
The Innocad office occupies the ground floor and the two-storied courtyard building. An open ramp leads to the staircase providing access to the apartments. The corporate identity of the young architects is consistently translated in the interior design: Gold-painted lecterns, printed or illuminated wall elements and curtains equally emphasize the corporate presence and the communicative character of spaces opening up towards the street. The prevailing attributes are gold-painted ceilings and crude fair-faced concrete. On the contrary, the courtyard house interior is entirely white (a rest area not only for the eyes).
White ceilings, white floors, even light fittings and curtains, the lattice steps, and net-like balustrades form a neutral, almost unreal scenery. The homogeneous white background reflects the light entering through the inclined roof onto wall and floor surfaces, whilst offering freedom, retreat and opportunities for thoughts and their originators. In the calm of this space, which is sheltered from the street noise (and occasional customers), interne sit-ins, meditative moments and creative breaks take place.
Light entering the space of courtyard building through the roof surfaces is effectively stage-managed on the neutral background.
Interior
The Innocad office occupies the ground floor and the two-storied courtyard building. An open ramp leads to the staircase providing access to the apartments. The corporate identity of the young architects is consistently translated in the interior design: Gold-painted lecterns, printed or illuminated wall elements and curtains equally emphasize the corporate presence and the communicative character of spaces opening up towards the street. The prevailing attributes are gold-painted ceilings and crude fair-faced concrete. On the contrary, the courtyard house interior is entirely white (a rest area not only for the eyes).
White ceilings, white floors, even light fittings and curtains, the lattice steps, and net-like balustrades form a neutral, almost unreal scenery. The homogeneous white background reflects the light entering through the inclined roof onto wall and floor surfaces, whilst offering freedom, retreat and opportunities for thoughts and their originators. In the calm of this space, which is sheltered from the street noise (and occasional customers), interne sit-ins, meditative moments and creative breaks take place.
Light entering the space of courtyard building through the roof surfaces is effectively stage-managed on the neutral background.
Interior
The Innocad office occupies the ground floor and the two-storied courtyard building. An open ramp leads to the staircase providing access to the apartments. The corporate identity of the young architects is consistently translated in the interior design: Gold-painted lecterns, printed or illuminated wall elements and curtains equally emphasize the corporate presence and the communicative character of spaces opening up towards the street. The prevailing attributes are gold-painted ceilings and crude fair-faced concrete. On the contrary, the courtyard house interior is entirely white (a rest area not only for the eyes).
White ceilings, white floors, even light fittings and curtains, the lattice steps, and net-like balustrades form a neutral, almost unreal scenery. The homogeneous white background reflects the light entering through the inclined roof onto wall and floor surfaces, whilst offering freedom, retreat and opportunities for thoughts and their originators. In the calm of this space, which is sheltered from the street noise (and occasional customers), interne sit-ins, meditative moments and creative breaks take place.
Light entering the space of courtyard building through the roof surfaces is effectively stage-managed on the neutral background.
Interior
The Innocad office occupies the ground floor and the two-storied courtyard building. An open ramp leads to the staircase providing access to the apartments. The corporate identity of the young architects is consistently translated in the interior design: Gold-painted lecterns, printed or illuminated wall elements and curtains equally emphasize the corporate presence and the communicative character of spaces opening up towards the street. The prevailing attributes are gold-painted ceilings and crude fair-faced concrete. On the contrary, the courtyard house interior is entirely white (a rest area not only for the eyes).
White ceilings, white floors, even light fittings and curtains, the lattice steps, and net-like balustrades form a neutral, almost unreal scenery. The homogeneous white background reflects the light entering through the inclined roof onto wall and floor surfaces, whilst offering freedom, retreat and opportunities for thoughts and their originators. In the calm of this space, which is sheltered from the street noise (and occasional customers), interne sit-ins, meditative moments and creative breaks take place.
Light entering the space of courtyard building through the roof surfaces is effectively stage-managed on the neutral background.
Golden Nugget – a puzzle infill project
Location and material
The Golden Nugget’ building is located on the edge of Graz’ historic district of the town, which is classified as World Cultural Heritage.
The external texture of the house is a laminar net from shinning gold-coloured copper tiles. The façade ‘envelope’ becomes the roof, evenly covered with a net from gold-coloured copper. It connects the neighbouring Wilhelminian style buildings painted in yellow hues, closing the street front as a homogeneous entity.
The staggering of the new building contour also mediates between the adjoining houses of various heights. Invisible from the outside remains the courtyard building dating from the 18th century. It was restored and coated with a gold-coloured paint – a ‘gold coat’ – that symbolically conserves the building for the ensuing ages.
Concept
The collaboration of the architects and project developers Andreas Reiter, Peter Schwaiger, Martin Lesjak, and Bernd Steinhuber began during a design seminar at Graz University. Here they had got to know and regard each other, before they founded the architectural practice Innocad in 1999, after passing their diploma. As luck would have it, all of them had individually dealt with the narrow building site of the ‘Golden Nugget’ during their studies.
Four different design concepts had been developed. The ‘Golden Nugget’ is the first building the four architects have realized at their own risk and for which they especially founded the project development firm 99 Plus.
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