At the heart of the complex, which comprises around 400 residential units, a green central area offers future residents a high quality of life.

Start of a new construction phase with 68 privately financed rental apartments
Realisation with general contractor Rhomberg Bau and GROPYUS using a sustainable modular construction method
Planned completion of the first construction phase is in 2026

Construction has commenced on BUWOG’s new Südtiroler development at Siebenbürgerstraße 1-19 in Salzburg. 68 rental apartments and three commercial units will be created in the first phase of construction. The overall project will comprise approximately 400 apartments and ten commercial units, about a third of which will be subsidised rentals.

The start of construction was preceded by a Europe-wide architectural competition with strict urban planning conditions, which was won by POS Architekten ZT GmbH with a team led by Ursula Schneider. The phased realisation is being carried out in the interest of the property’s existing tenants and will enable the majority of the approximately 60 parties to move into the new complex in just one move. At the same time, the apartments in the first construction phase are being offered to existing tenants under especially favourable terms.
The first construction phase will be completed in 2026, with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2028.

“In close cooperation with representatives of the municipal government, we have succeeded at beginning implementation of an extremely important project that will help alleviate the housing shortage in Salzburg. Furthermore, through our cooperation with GROPYUS and Rhomberg Bau, we are not only creating sustainable and affordable residential space but also developing what is currently Austria’s largest timber residential building,” says Andreas Holler, managing director of BUWOG Group GmbH.

Along Siebenbürgenstraße, the apartments in the first construction phase offer a new living experience for around 60 existing tenants.

Cooperation with GROPYUS

With the start of construction of the Südtiroler development in cooperation with Rhomberg Bau GmbH as general contractor, the technology-based construction company GROPYUS is launching its first construction project in its home market of Austria. Using a serial timber construction method, the first construction phase will see the creation of two apartment buildings featuring 68 residential units – 62 of which will be built using the GROPYUS construction system and six apartments using the Rhomberg Bau construction system. The two new buildings have a total gross floor area of approximately 4,500 square metres, around 3,800 square metres of which will be built by GROPYUS. As a result of industrial series production with a modular and versatile construction system, GROPYUS can flexibly build on existing plans and thereby contribute to the efficient expansion of residential construction projects. Markus Fuhrmann, founder and co-CEO of GROPYUS, says: “As a company established in Vienna, it is a fantastic milestone for us to now demonstrate our fully digitalised and industrial construction approach in Austria in practice, and to do so in such a forward-looking project as the Südtiroler development. The Austrian housing market is facing incredible challenges: increased construction costs, scarce residential space and considerable environmental requirements to reduce emissions from the construction industry. Our approach offers a genuine opportunity to address these issues and quickly create affordable and sustainable residential space.” Jürgen Kainz, project manager at general contractor Rhomberg Bau, particularly emphasises his partner’s expertise in timber construction: “GROPYUS has already attracted attention in Germany with its commitment to sustainable timber construction, as has Rhomberg Bau with its holistic solutions in timber construction systems. Thus, it only makes sense that we are joining forces to construct a total of around 400 residential units – 62 by GROPYUS and the remaining 300 by us.”
The construction project is aiming to win the Austrian klimaaktiv building standard in gold.

Added value for residents and locals from the overall project

Andreas Holler on the new Südtiroler development: “Together with the City of Salzburg, we are carrying out a premium and pioneering new construction project that sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and accessibility.” It should be emphasised that a considerable proportion of the new apartments planned will be subsidised rentals. There are also plans to build assisted living accommodations in the development. “It was important to us to ensure that the apartments in this location are affordable, so that current and future residents from all target groups can find a home here.” The planning also took the surrounding area and local residents into account: on the one hand, the height of the project will be adapted to the surroundings. In addition, so-called mobility points are planned to promote low-threshold access to climate-friendly mobility (i.e. electric charging stations). A new underground car park will also be available to local residents.