September 19, 2025
Habitat
A meeting place for all generations
The roof of this municipal building was taken off to make way for a new timber level. This addition holds rehearsal rooms, a music hall, and solar panels that power the building. Exposed trusses span the wide attic, creating open, column-free spaces with great sound. Photo © Dominic Kummer
The Austrian village of Langen bei Bregenz needed a community center. What they had was a very tired municipal building. In 2025, MWArchitekten transformed it into a modern hub for civic life. Rather than expanding outward, they restructured the building vertically, adding a new timber top floor with open, flexible space for music rehearsals and community events.
The design deliberately distinguishes the new addition from the historical façade below through minimalist and carefully placed openings, offering a calm, modern layer to the old structure without erasing its identity.
Inside, residents now enjoy accessible spaces, larger council rooms, and welcoming foyers that encourage chance encounters. The building serves all generations, housing the kindergarten, music club, local government, and community gatherings under one roof.
The revitalized Gemeindehaus reflects ecological construction, adaptive reuse, and long-term planning—ensuring that this community center can grow and evolve into the future.
PROJECT PORTFOLIO: Community Center Langen bei Bregenz / MWArchitekten
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