Building under 2,000 euros

Building under 2,000 euros

“That was an announcement – ​​and we are now following it up with action.” Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of Porr, is referring to a project that he presented a few months ago: to build living space at a cost of less than 2,000 euros per square meter. A promise that can certainly be described as ambitious given the massive increase in construction costs of up to 3,000 euros per square meter - and yet, according to Strauss, "technically feasible".

Building with elements

Porr relies on what is known as “elementary construction” – an approach that does not rely rigidly on a single material, but rather combines several building materials. The aim is to build quickly, efficiently and at the same time with high quality using industrially prefabricated components. “We don’t work with a closed system like pure wood, brick or concrete construction,” explains Strauss. “Instead, we take the best of each material and put it together with prefabricated elements.”

This modular approach makes it possible to build buildings with up to six floors - including a balcony, photovoltaic system and modern building technology. Porr wants to realize the first projects in the coming months. Underground parking garages or complex outdoor facilities are not included in the stated construction costs, but fully equipped residential buildings with heating and cooling systems such as mini heat pumps are.

The target group for this construction method are primarily non-profit developers and public clients in Austria and Germany. The aim of the project is to provide them with “proof in practice” that modern, sustainable residential buildings are actually feasible at a cost of less than 2,000 euros per square meter. “In this way, we are creating affordable living space, up to six floors high, with everything a modern housing concept needs today,” explains the Porr boss. Sustainability is also an integral part of the concept - but always in relation to affordability. “Of course this has to remain within a reasonable price-performance ratio,” emphasizes Strauss.

Austria's largest construction company, Strabag, also does not remain inactive when it comes to affordable construction. The company recently brought its series-ready product for residential construction under 2,000 euros onto the market. Under the name Tetriqx, the construction company offers a mass-produced construction system that was developed specifically for urban housing. The approach: prefabricated modules, standardized floor plans and a high level of industrial production should make living space quicker and cheaper - while maintaining consistently high quality.

According to Strabag, Tetriqx works like a modular system. It offers three ready-planned building types for different requirements and property sizes. The floor plans are optimized for areas of around 44 to 88 square meters and can be combined to form buildings with up to seven floors. The construction is designed to be suitable for a variety of properties and densification projects.

Markus Engerth, board member of Strabag AG Austria, sees Tetriqx as a concrete answer to the structural housing crisis: "Affordable housing is possible - but not with yesterday's recipes. We have to build faster, more sustainably and in a standardized manner, without restricting the quality of living." According to Strabag, with the new system construction prices starting at 1,950 euros per square meter could be achieved - a value that is well below the current market average.

A key feature of the Tetriqx system is the drastically reduced construction time. Thanks to industrial prefabrication and clearly defined processes, construction time can be reduced by up to four months compared to conventional methods, according to Strabag. In total, the entire project duration could even be halved. This not only benefits investors, but also reduces the burden on residents through shorter construction site times.

Strabag also wants to score points with Tetriqx when it comes to sustainability. Component activation is used for heating and cooling. This allows buildings to be heated efficiently in winter and cooled comfortably in summer without the need for additional installations. The energy requirement will be reduced by at least 22 percent.

In addition, according to Strabag, serial production combined with the use of sustainable materials reduces CO₂ emissions over the entire life cycle of the building by up to 50 percent. For Engerth it is clear: "With Tetriqx we are delivering a solution that enables construction prices starting at 1,950 euros per square meter for high-quality properties. This is a real remedy against the impending housing crisis." The first residential buildings with the Tetriqx system are expected to be built next year.

Both Porr and Strabag are aiming for a paradigm shift in the construction industry: away from individual projects dominated by craftsmen and towards industrially organized, standardized construction processes. The goals are clearly defined – low costs and short construction times, combined with high sustainability.  Whether the two concepts can hold their own on the market will become apparent in the coming months. The conditions for this have been created – and the expectations in politics and the real estate industry are high.