Vierschach fire station, Innichen / San Candido

This fire station is situated in the eastern Upper Pusteria Valley, at an altitude of 1,130 meters above sea-level. The oblong, two-story building parallels the main street and offers generous free areas: A place for social clubs on the upper story facing the great hall, and an exercise / parking lot on the lower level which is connected to the vehicle hall. The exterior staircase on the inside also makes the building into a connection between the street and the parking lot. The exterior envelope consists of light-weight constructional concrete. The addition of light aggregate (expanded clay) as an artificial light-weight additive according to DIN EN 13055 provides the concrete with significant thermal insulating properties, thus obviating the need for further insulation measures. In addition to its load-bearing and sealing function, this red-colored high-density light-weight concrete could also be employed as exposed concrete in the frost-proof façade.