Boku Wasserbaulabor Vienna / Hydra_Labs will be a new state of the art river engineering analysis and research facility located where the Donaukanal leaves the Danube River. The project will be framed in its location by the historic Nussdorf Weir, an elegant architectural composition and key landmark designed by Otto Wagner in 1899. The building sits in between the river Danube, and draws river into the building which is used for testing and examining in the lab. The planned water engineering laboratory is to be erected in Nussdorf / Brigittenauer Sporn 3 in Vienna on an island between the Danube and the Danube Canal. Since there is a water level difference of about 3 m between the Freudenau and the Danube canal, it is possible to achieve up to 10 m3 / s of coagulated flow in the laboratory (without pumps) in the mirror; Which means that water is extracted from the Danube and discharged into the Danube Canal. Such a high flow rate without pumps in a model gutter is unique in Europe, and therefore an unconstrained and innovative feature of this project. The flow rate can be adjusted and adjusted automatically by means of control units. The resulting hydraulic parameters, such as water depth and flow velocity, are determined by the dimensions of the tests carried out in the Main Channel and the Outdoor Stream Lab. The seal flow also makes it possible to save energy and thus contribute to climate protection. The aims of the waterworks’ laboratory are to improve the understanding of processes in rivers, the development of mathematical models for the process description and the prediction of the effects of river engineering measures as well as the development of innovative water based methods and measures for the improvement of navigation, energy management, flood protection and the Ecology.

Project Summary by Asymptote Architecture

Overview

• Science & Technology, 156,700 ft² (14,600 m²),  80 ft (25 m) - 4 floors