Retrofitting of existing elevator systems

Residential buildings of the 50s, 60s and 70s were often built in such a way that the ground floor was on the mezzanine - many staircases in municipal buildings are built this way. Also in the Per-Albin-Hansson-Siedlung many apartments do not have barrier-free access. In particular, the steps leading to the ground floor or to the elevator often represent a considerable barrier.

A lack of or limited accessibility in the residential environment affects daily life and quality of life in many ways, and the consequences are often complex: the independence of elderly people is jeopard-ized, the risk of accidents for people with walking disabilities increases, people with walking disabilities or care needs move away. Rollators and baby carriages are increasingly parked in the entrance area and can thus endanger fire safety. 

Barrier-free access is particularly important for senior citizens in municipal buildings, so that they can remain in their living environment for as long as possible, even if they need care and assistance. However, improving accessibility also increases the attractiveness of community housing for people of all ages with limited mobility and for parents with small children.

The technical retrofitting or conversion of elevator systems in existing buildings is to be tested as a pilot project within the framework of the IBA_Vienna on one staircase each in the PAHO: on the one hand, a platform lift is to help overcome the steps to the elevator - on the other hand, a through-loading lift enables direct access on each half floor.

The aim of the conversion is to enable elevator entry and exit on all floors in order to improve accessibility and age suitability in the housing estate. The experience gained from the refurbishment project should make such upgrades much easier in the future.