| Project scope | Museum with a gross floor area of approx. 7,500 m² and net production costs of €640,000.00 for the air well |
| Our services | Feasibility studies using building energy modelling, planning of ventilation technology in planning phases 0 to 5, specialised services in planning phases 6 to 9, initial operation and monitoring |
| Contract duration | 2014 until 2018 |
| Owner / Developer | Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien |
| Architecture | Ralph Appelbaum Associates / Hoskins Architects |
| Project scope | Museum with a gross floor area of approx. 7,500 m² and net production costs of €640,000.00 for the air well |
| Our service | Feasibility studies using building energy modelling, planning of ventilation technology in planning phases 0 to 5, specialised services in planning phases 6 to 9, initial operation and monitoring |
| Contract duration | 2014 until 2018 |
| Owner / Developer | Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien |
| Architecture | Ralph Appelbaum Associates / Hoskins Architects |
The Neue Burg within the Hofburg complex was originally fitted with a heating and ventilation system designed by Carl Böhm, which was considered cutting-edge for its time. The air heating system, with an external air supply provided warm temperatures in winter, while one of the basement levels was explicitly built with large openings and functioned as an ‘air well’ to allow fresh air to flow into the living spaces. The historic supply air system was reactivated when the the Corps de Logis wing of the Vienna Hofburg became home to the new Weltmuseum Wien.
We used a multi-zone building energy modelling to explore the possibilities of using the existing thermal masses and planned the entire ventilation system for the exhibition rooms to be supplied by the historic “air well”. We also supervised the building systems regulation and monitoring during the first two years of operation.
By utilizing adjustable air volume control in combination with the building’s thermal mass, a reliable and nearly climate-neutral cooling of the museum spaces is achieved, significantly reducing technical complexity and eliminating the need for mechanical refrigeration.
Fotocredits © KHM Museumsverband / wiki commons / Larix Engineering