In the heart of Bolzano’s historic center, new living and workspaces were created by adding a new story to an existing building—in a sustainable, resource-efficient manner and with the utmost precision in craftsmanship. The project on Vintlerstraße impressively demonstrates the possibilities offered by modern timber construction, even under the most challenging inner-city conditions.
For Südtirolhaus, this construction project meant far more than simply assembling a wooden structure. After digitally surveying the existing building, all components were designed and manufactured with millimeter precision and adapted to the irregular characteristics of the historic building. Approximately 350 m³ of cross-laminated timber, 50 m³ of glued laminated timber and solid structural timber, as well as about 20 metric tons of steel, formed the foundation for the three new stories.
The cramped construction site in the heart of the Old Town required precise logistics and a high degree of prefabrication. Large-format timber construction elements were delivered and assembled just in time, which helped minimize construction time, noise, and disruptions to the surrounding area.
In addition to the all-wood construction, Südtirolhaus also completed the building envelope—including 102 wood-aluminum windows and balcony doors with sunshades—as well as the roofing, sheet metal work, and thermal insulation. Twelve dormers and nine rooftop terraces give the building a striking appearance, while the traditional roofing with “monk and nun” tiles harmoniously integrates the new structure into the historic cityscape.
The project impressively demonstrates how existing buildings can be sustainably upgraded using modern timber construction methods. Thanks to close collaboration among all project participants, the addition was completed on schedule and handed over to the new owners in the summer and fall of 2024. Today, it stands as a model of high-quality infill development in an urban setting and underscores Südtirolhaus’s expertise in challenging timber construction projects involving existing buildings.
