Modernization of a Wilhelminian Style Building using Aerogel Insulation Plaster

Project partner

• Trimmel Wall Architects ZT GmbH
• Schöberl & Pöll GmbH
• Brun Real Estate Management and Mediation

Subcontractor

• Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Building Construction and Technology

Project description

The refurbishment of buildings with historical building fabric requires innovative concepts in order to meet both design requirements and technical and economic considerations. The Aerogel high performance insulation plaster system provides a new alternative for the area of application of the old building renovation with preservation-worthy facades.

The demonstration took place in the course of the reconstruction and revitalisation of a building which was heavily damaged as a result of a gas explosion before 1872. The primary objective was to demonstrate the technical feasibility and practicability of such rehabilitation solutions. A further project objective was the metrological monitoring of the renovation project in order, on the one hand, to determine the effect of the plaster and, on the other hand, to evaluate the overall renovation.

The aerogel plaster was applied to the existing masonry for the first time on a structured façade and in close cooperation between architects, plaster manufacturer and contractor. In the project, a layer thickness of around 5.5 cm was applied to approx. 205 m² of facade area. A heat flow measurement was carried out at several points in the existing building and after completion of the renovation work, and the resulting U-value was calculated. In addition, the building was equipped with an energy consumption and comfort monitoring system.

The visible result is the successful renovation of a historic building, which succeeded in restoring its external appearance and achieving a visually unrecognisable transition between the old building and reconstruction. The high structural and design requirements were met in full and a high visibility of the project was achieved (above all by winning the 33rd Vienna Urban Renewal Prize of the Viennese Construction Guild). At the same time, the high demands of an energy-efficient building stock could be met, even though the metrologically determined heat transfer coefficient does not fully correspond to the calculated values. The supplementary evaluation by means of long-term monitoring takes place after the first or second year of operation.