Graduation ceremony in Graz

Following the ground-breaking ceremony in November 2024, the “LUMA” project in the Graz-Reininghaus urban development area has reached its next milestone: the topping-out ceremony was held in April. By early 2027, a total of 277 privately funded rental flats and commercial spaces will be completed in the so-called North Block – designed by schneider+schumacher Vienna on behalf of ÖSW Österreichisches Siedlungswerk Gemeinnützige Wohnungs AG.

The buildings are being constructed using a durable and resource-efficient brick construction method that prioritises sustainability and longevity. The use of core-insulated bricks achieves high energy efficiency – entirely without a conventional external thermal insulation composite system. This is complemented by a mineral plaster façade, which combines ecological and building physics benefits whilst also contributing to a pleasant indoor climate.

The design by schneider+schumacher and Lindle+Bukor (landscape planning) arranges the point blocks around a central square. The complex offers a wide range of flat sizes – from compact one-bedroom flats to spacious four-bedroom flats. Thanks to the varied rotation of the basic geometry, most flats can be arranged as corner units, thereby avoiding flats facing purely north. The ground floors of two buildings will also house commercial premises.

Group photo at the topping-out ceremony (from left to right): Stefan Lipp (Branch Manager, Building Construction Styria, PORR AG), Wolfgang Wahlmüller (CEO, ÖSW Group), Eckehart Loidolt (Partner, schneider+schumacher Architekten ZT GmbH), Hermann Herbst (Managing Partner, Tritthart + Herbst Architekten ZT GmbH) and Sascha Risavy (Head of Construction Management, ÖSW AG).

Photo bottom right: ÖSW