In its design for the housing project CJ5, the architecture firm Caramel tackles sustainable urban density on the outskirts of Vienna.
From an infrastructural and space-saving perspective, it would be worth striving not only for a denser flat construction style (FAR 0.4-0.8) for these areas, but also a FAR of 0.8 to 1.2, which at present is only achieved by means of densely built multi-story apartment blocks.
House CJ5 has the qualities of the single-family house, with a generous garden and terrace on the living level, and attains a FAR of 1.0. It is therefore more densely constructed in comparison to a multi-story apartment block. This compact design has been made possible by means of a narrow floor plan layout of 16 by 115 feet, with a three-sided firewall to allow the possibility of direct extension, an internal connection between the living levels, a central atrium garden, and focused horizontal and vertical lighting areas.
From the outside, one enters a relatively enclosed white spatial sculpture, which then continues to open up vertically as one proceeds from the studio/garage in the entrance area to the living area and atrium garden. In this way, an internal set of very spacious interlocking rooms is developed, despite the narrowness of the property.