Roof 2100

By 2100, Vienna will face higher average temperatures, longer heatwaves and more tropical nights, during which buildings can no longer cool down passively. In dense structures such as the Gemeindebau this causes severe overheating, especially in upper floors and roof zones exposed to direct solar radiation. At the same time more extreme and unpredictable weather, including intense rainfall, dry periods and unstable seasonal transitions, will further stress buildings.

These changes create overlapping challenges for architecture. Heat gain must be reduced and passive cooling enabled, since mechanical air conditioning is neither sustainable nor affordable at scale in social housing. Buildings must also respond to seasonal variability, as winters, although milder, still require heat retention and protection from cold and moisture. This calls for systems that adapt over time instead of remaining fixed in one mode.