BEING MOBILE - Rhomberg Bau

BEING MOBILE 

From one place to the next. We are moving faster than ever 

before. And that also applies to communication. With data 

transfer and video-conferencing/telephony, the world is 

becoming ever smaller. Australia is but a few seconds away 

from Europe. Being mobile also means, on a personal level, 

not standing still. To develop, learn and grow. As members of 

staff the onus is on us to be flexible – with regard to where 

we work and what we do. However, in spite of all this mobility 

it is important not just to step on the accelerator, but also 

the brake so that we decelerate our everyday lives and gain 

time for ourselves. 

www.rhombergbau.at

2010 

new 

dimensions 

mobilitY 

Back to the future 6 

Thoughts on Mobility 

A HIGH LEVEL OF WOOD 12 

The LifeCycle Tower is Definitive 

Crossing the Alps 30 

Everything Runs According To Plan 

on the Brenner 

The magazine of the Rhomberg Group

Contents 

Editorial 3 

In a nutshell 4 – 5 

MOBILITY 

Back to the future 6 

A few thoughts on mobility 7 

Rethinking + changing 8 

Statements, Glossary 9 

Life cycle optimisation news 10 

Facility management in practice 11 

The LifeCycle Tower is definitive 12 

Vision and innovation 13 

Relief for the lower Rhine Valley 13 

New housing projects 14 – 16 

Project development events 17 

Structural engineering stories 18 

Conversion and modernisation 19 

Variety on minor works sites 20 – 21 

Homes in Passivhaus quality 22 – 23 

Corporate identity for Rhomberg 24 

julitec , new platform for project management 25 

Centred on people 26 – 27 

Total contractor completes hotel project 28 

Civil engineering: New developments in Dornbirn 29 

Rapid progress for Alptransit Brenner 30 – 31 

Railways without electrical engineering? 32 

Bahnbau Wels extends machine park 33 

Track Australia has established itself 34 – 35 

Rhomberg Kalebozan HSL Ankara – Istanbul 36 

Menegola AG adds to Rhomberg expertise 37 

Railway Technology Switzerland gets going 38 – 39 

Project overview Railway Technology Switzerland 39 

Rhomberg Construction Switzerland 40 – 42 

Art and culture in buildings 43 

14 

34 

40 

PUBLISHED BY Rhomberg Group, Mariahilf strasse 29, 6900 Bregenz /Austria, Tel +43 5574 / 403-0, 

Fax +43 5574 / 403-309, info@rhombergbau.at, www.rhombergbau.at Photographs Shutterstock (Cover), Bollhalder & 

Eberle AG, Fotostudio Philipp Lehmann St. Gallen, ARSON AG Wil, Rhomberg Responsible for the content Gabi Schnell 

Editor-in-chief Gabi Schnell Editorial team Dirk Diederich, Susanne Dünser, Karl Gneis, Simone Grabher, 

Sandra Hermes, Karin Hubalek, Gökhan Ipek, Rebecca Jungbluth, Gregor Koller, Anna-Lina Kräutler, Elke Meisinger, 

Frieda Moosbrugger, Isabella Paschinger, Angelika Rhomberg, Madeleine Sargant, Elisabeth Schäfer, Gabi Schnell, 

Milena Simonovic, Stefanie Sutterlüti, Sabrina Vonach, Tobias Vonach, Michael Zangerl Concept and design 

die3, Public Relations Agency, Dornbirn/AUT Printed on Galaxy matt Declaration pursuant to § 25 Media Act ‘New 

Dimensions’ is published once a year producing 4,000 copies in German and 1,500 copies in English

The future is beautiful. 

Currently, there is a lot of discussion 

about the economic crisis. How bad it is. 

How long it will last. And what measures 

are being taken by the State and others. 

One thing is clear: the upheavals lead to 

conditions which present us too with new 

and difficult challenges. But we can’t just 

blame the general economy; there have 

also been mistakes in the past. 

It doesn’t help to just sit and bemoan the 

fact. 

Rather, we have to seize the moment, take 

it as an opportunity for development and move forward in the 

right direction. It is our own decision as to how and what we want 

to be. 

38 

Basic prerequisites for independence are fitness and a competitive 

edge. These help us to support our own renewal process 

with our own resources. For the year 2010 we have defined three 

points of focus: We want to be even closer to our customers 

and their needs and cultivate our networks. We want to keep 

tight control of costs and thereby ensure our liquidity. And we 

will systematically implement principles we have established in 

management. 

This involves the commitment of all our members of staff. 

“Rhomberg’s special quality of togetherness” gives us the necessary 

security and energy, even in stormy times. Many of the 

seemingly simple remedies do not work. They destroy trust and 

leave behind such a human desert that it takes years for it to become 

fertile again. Our strategic considerations for the company 

include long-term relationships and sustainable effects. 

Satisfaction, health and success are the outcome of 

concentrated joint effort. It is in our own hands to create a safe 

and beautiful future. 

Hubert Rhomberg 

editorial | NEW DIMENSIONS 3

In a nutshell 

A world away from construction sites and offices 

Paris Exhibition: Habiter écologique 

As part of the exhibition on ecologically 

responsible living, which was held 

between April and September 2009 

in the “Cité de l’architecture et du 

patrimoine” (City of Architecture and 

Cultural Heritage) in the Palais Chaillot 

in Paris, the model of the “Sandgrubenweg” 

housing area was presented 

as a pilot project for trend-setting 

housing construction. 

Curator of the exhibition was 

Dominique Gauzin-Müller. 

AWP After Work Party 2009 

Getting colleagues talking after 6.00 

p.m. – the AWP Parties 2009 offered 

opportunity for a get-together with 

colleagues, partners, friends, tradesmen 

and business partners. The hosts 

of the 2009 event were the departments 

GU, Housing Construction and 

Railway Engineering. 

Snow A raw material for works of art 

In August 2009, colleagues from 

Rhomberg visited the exhibition 

Schnee. Rohstoff der Kunst (“Snow. A 

raw material for works of art”) in the 

Vorarlberg State Museum. The topic 

was approached in an unusual and 

exciting manner from the point of view 

of a summer exhibition. 

BBW cycling team Plain sailing 

At the end of July 2009 the 2 nd Intersport 

Eybl Business Radkriterium 

cycling event took place in Wels. This 

year’s event also marked the first time 

that Bahnbau Wels GmbH entered a 

cycling team into the competition, a 

race that laps around the inner city 

of Wels. Even though it wasn’t quite 

enough for a podium finish for the 

BBW cycling team in the end, we are 

still extremely proud of our team. 

Railway technology training course in Monterrey, Nuevo León in Mexico 

At the end of the project there was a 

training course for personnel at operator 

Metrorrey which covered inspection, 

maintenance and repairs for the 

track systems. The training was set 

up under direct responsibility of Mario 

Dattola and coordinated with the 

operator. Mario Dattola was also able 

to cover the special local features and 

requirements of the project, not least 

thanks to his many years of experience 

in Mexico. 

4 NEW DIMENSIONS | In a nutshell

Opening ceremony “Garnisonstrasse” hall of residence in Linz 

On 27 August 2009, the opening 

ceremony for the “Studierendenheim 

der Wirtschaftshilfe der Studierenden 

Oberösterreich” hall of residence was 

held. It is hoped that its outstanding 

energy efficiency will be a role model 

for the in-demand students of the 

technical college. Over a total of six 

floors, Rhomberg ARGE and PTI/ 

Telekom Immobilien have created a 

modern living space with 125 individual 

and five double rooms, some of 

which have been designed to cater for 

disabled students. 

New apprenticeships for 2009 Bricklayers, civil engineers and technical engineers 

Sandro, Benjamin, Thomas and Fabian 

have opted for an apprenticeship as 

bricklayers, Patrick has gone for a 

career as civil engineer and Thomas is 

training at BBW to become a technical 

engineer. We are pleased to welcome 

these six committed young men to the 

Rhomberg Team. 

Munich Oktoberfest by train 

On 2 October 2009, 12 colleagues 

from Bahntechnik Bregenz, St. Gallen, 

ARGE Alptransit Brenner and Rhomberg 

Bau set off for some serious 

celebrations in the beer garden. We 

enjoyed a pint in the garden of the 

Löwenbräu tent and made the return 

journey on the same day by train. 

Setting the course for the future with optimised corporate structures 

The following were appointed as new 

authorised representatives of the company: 

Andreas Förster, Rhomberg Bahntechnik 

AG, Menegola AG; Peter Strolz, 

Rhomberg Gleisbau GmbH; Josef Jenny, 

Rhomberg Bau AG; Dirk Diederich and 

Richard Geiger, Rhom berg Bahntechnik 

GmbH; Stefan Knittel, RTE Technologie 

GmbH, a company in the Rhomberg 

Railway Technology Group. 

In a nutshell | NEW DIMENSIONS 5

Back to the future 

How the Rhomberg Group manages to combine faith in 

tried and tested solutions with a clear focus on the future. 

What can we hold on to in times of crisis? What will bring us closer 

to the future? How can we today shape the world of tomorrow 

in a sustainable manner with the current means at our disposal? 

One possibility is to take one step back and then two steps forward – 

another is to focus on mobility in terms of thinking and actions. 

We focus on tried and tested solutions by learning to refocus on 

our core business, concentrating on our strengths and using them 

appropriately in the marketplace – and by allowing new knowledge 

and expertise to become part of the solution as well. This is not a 

contradiction – in fact ‘tried and tested’ and ‘new’ is actually an unbeatable 

combination. The fact that this works is continually proved 

by our projects, our satisfied customers, clients, building owners and 

employees. 

NEVER STANDING STILL 

In recent years, a lot has happened in the Rhomberg Group. We have 

become mobile, flexible and shown how to lead the way. Sustainable 

housing construction with flexible solutions and services all around 

the topics of living, passive house standards, energy refurbishment, 

lifecycle analyses of buildings and infrastructure, railway technology, 

resource-optimized construction site logistics, regional supply of the 

raw material “stone”. This – and of course much more – is what the 

Rhomberg Group stands for. 

ALLOW US TO LEAD THE WAY 

Our LifeCycle Tower is the product of ‘tried and tested’ and ‘new’. Our 

expertise in the field of conventional wooden construction methods, 

combined with our competence in systems construction, facility 

management and our lifecycle orientation has produced a multi-storey 

building made of wood, which produces more energy than it consumes, 

binds CO 2 

, was quickly constructed according to the ‘Lego’ 

principle and which created hardly any construction waste – making it 

completely sustainable. Thanks to the expertise of our employees and 

network partners, we have been able to realize a unique project and 

thus make an innovative contribution to sustainable construction. 

With the range of services we have at our disposal, we are in a unique 

position to consider more far-reaching additional traffic solutions for 

Vorarlberg, as well as to come up with proposals for using electromobility 

and alternative forms of energy. In this way, we gain new 

expertise, which we can then share with others. 

This keeps us moving, so we never stand still – neither in terms of 

thinking nor in terms of our actions. 

Anna-Lina Kräutler 

6 NEW DIMENSIONS | MOBILITY

mobilitY 

A few thoughts on mobility 

Cars are stuck in a traffic jam. Cyclists are sweating. The overfilled 

buses and trains stink. Walking is too much like hard 

work. So why not stay at home and enjoy the life of a couch 

potato? How much more fun was life 50 years ago, when 

Austrian writer Helmut Qualtinger intoned in his Austrian 

vernacular: “I may not have a clue where I am going, but at 

least I will get there quicker!” Then as now, the key word was 

progress. Movement. Mobility. Whatever – just keep moving. 

Never mind where to. And: whatever you do, don’t think about 

it. Clearly, thinking must be proving something of a challenge 

if we are so heavily reliant on such an inefficient means of 

transport as our conventional cars, with a real efficiency of 

between 20% (petrol cars) and 30% (diesels). Not to mention 

the fact that these vehicles spend upwards of 90% of 

their lives standing still, either in traffic jams or in the garage. 

Consequently, some might equate cars more with standing 

still see them as an expression of mobility. 

But, in the case of electric cars, the fact that cars spend so 

much time doing nothing is precisely what can be turned to 

our advantage – by using their batteries as storage for basic, 

economy-rate electricity which can then be used as ondemand 

peak-rate electricity. Smart Grids make this possible. 

This type of intelligent network – which is still under development 

– balances large numbers of electricity generators, consumers 

and storage devices for electrical energy in the most 

energy and cost-efficient manner, and it can also revolutionize 

our mobility. Just imagine a global network of cars, trams, 

trains, buses, bicycles and mopeds – all powered with electricity 

from renewable energy carriers – which are interlinked 

with each other in such a way that everybody on earth can access 

the most appropriate means of transportation at any time. 

Maybe ships and airplanes can join in as well. 

Impossible? But why? What is only just beginning with Smart 

Grids in the electricity sector definitely does not need to end 

there. We already have all the necessary pieces in our hands, 

now we just need to put them together intelligently. 

In any case, the Kyoto Protocol sets out a reduction of greenhouse 

gases which is binding under international law – and 

transportation is one of the key culprits. Not to mention the 

fact that the current economic crisis is having a serious impact 

on the automotive industry. Plus – of course – oil reserves will 

run out in due course. 

But none of this will be a problem if we learn how to tune in 

to making the best use of our mobility 

Willi Sieber, Austrian Ecology Institute 

7

mobilitY 

VLOTTE – a nifty fleet: Employees at Rhomberg have access to 4 pool cars, 1 electric scooter and 6 pool bicycles. 

Rethinking + changing = impossible? 

Awareness-forming activities influence our travel habits 

Pool cars and pool bicycles, business tickets for the Austrian 

Federal Railways ÖBB, and annual season tickets for 

the local public transport system: the Rhomberg Group is 

doing what it can to help employees rethink their travel 

habits and make the change to public transport. Increasingly, 

this is helping colleagues to do without their private car 

or a company car. Attractive offers help people to rethink 

their approach to transport, and this extends way beyond 

company travel. Awareness for mobility options, including 

walking or using bicycles for the odd trip at home, is now 

becoming more widespread. 

was introduced in June 2009 to make public transport more 

attractive. During a two-week period, Rhomberg employees 

sampled the local bus and train services and learned about 

the advantages of public transport. The costs were shared 

equally by VVV and the Rhomberg Group. 

ON BUSES AND TRAINS TO THE RCR 

On the open day at the Resources Center Rheintal in October 

2009, Rhomberg offered visitors environmentally friendly 

transport to the event with free transfers on city buses and 

regional buses. 

FUN MOBILITY & CYCLING COMPETITION 

This year’s annual mobility campaign sparked a huge 

response once again. Every employee who made his or her 

way to work by public transport, in a car-sharing arrangement 

with colleagues, by bicycle or on foot got a stamp on 

their card. As a ‘thank-you’ for this environmental awareness, 

the company then exchanged the stamps for vouchers 

for nearby retailers and restaurants. 

CO 2 

-SAVING MEASURES FOR CARS 

Once a year, colleagues with company cars are given the opportunity 

to perfect their driving skills in terms of safety and 

fuel efficiency as part of the Safety and ‘Eco-Drive’ Training. 

With the aid of the ‘Eco-Drive’ techniques, fuel savings of between 

5 and 15 percent are possible – and this of course also 

means savings in terms of CO 2 

and money in the bank, keeping 

the environment and the company’s accountants happy. 

MAKING THE CHANGE WITH THE JOB TICKET 

In conjunction with the local public transport provider, the 

Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg (VVV), the so-called ‘Job ticket’ 

From April to September 2009 the Rhomberg 

Group successfully took part in the cycling 

competition of the Energy Institute of Vorarlberg 

and contributed 8,600 km to the ‘environment 

account’. 

“VLOTTE” – WE ARE PART OF THE PROJECT 

Since October 2009, the Rhomberg Group has been running 

an electric Fiat 500 as part of the VLOTTE project, a study in 

electro-mobility in the region of Vorarlberg. The electric car is 

available as one of the cars in the company’s pool of vehicles 

for all colleagues for company trips. It is perfectly complemented 

by our electric scooter, which is also available in the 

company pool. For trips to the city centre of Bregenz, nearby 

construction sites and neighbouring communities the speedy 

bike is an environmentally safe and pollution-free alternative. 

We are very pleased to be part of this pioneering project in 

electro-mobility. Together, we are taking the lead once again. 

Madeleine Sargant 

8 NEW DIMENSIONS | mobilitY

Sarah Krenkel 

Marjeta Ulmer 

Torsten Neumann 

Jasmin Lind 

Gerhard Pum 

Topic: What benefits will the mobility stamp card offer Rhomberg? 

“The bus route 21a from Lauterach to Bregenz stops directly 

outside the Rhomberg office building, so it is perfect 

for me. With buses travelling every 30 minutes, I am still 

flexible. The journey itself takes 10 minutes on the bus, but 

this is no more than the time I would have spent in the car. 

In the summer I will ride my bicycle, but during the winter 

months and when it is raining the bus is the easiest and 

most comfortable option.” 

Sarah Krenkel, Bauen im Bestand/Structural Engineering 

“I happily admit to being a car-free person. Every day I 

cycle to work, whatever the weather. The idea of having 

our mobility cards stamped is a really good one because it 

rewards my environmentally friendly outlook.” 

Torsten Neumann, Railway Technology 

“For me, the health aspect is the key. I like to burn off calories 

in an environmentally aware way, and it is good to be 

doing something for my health at the same time. I love the 

cycle path from Wolfurt to Bregenz, so it is simply great 

fun to leave the car at home.” 

Marjeta Ulmer, Accounts 

“By collecting mobility stamps and leaving my car at home, 

I have realized that I don’t actually need it. Now we only 

have one car in our household.” 

Jasmin Lind, Group Service HR 

“By car, it takes between 25 and 45 minutes to get to my 

workplace in the Resources Center Rheintal. If I go on public 

buses it is 1 hour each way, but I don’t mind the extra 

time because I arrive stress-free at work and back home 

again. Plus I save money. This is the best way for me.” 

Gerhard Pum, Underground Engineering 

GlossarY 

Mobility Derived from the Latin word 

“mobilitas”, mobility also means being or staying 

in motion. 

Modal share Technical term from the statistical 

analysis of different modes of transport; the 

share describes the distribution of transport 

users across different modes of transport. The 

modal share is a consequence of the mobility 

behaviour of people and the commercial decisions 

of companies on the one hand and the 

availability of transport on the other. 

Slow-moving traffic Pedestrians and cyclists 

ÖPNV German abbreviation for local public 

transport systems: bus, train, metro, ferry… 

MIV German abbreviation for motorized 

individual transport system: private cars and 

motorcycles. 

Smart Grids Technical term for intelligent 

electricity networks. With the aid of computer 

simulations, Smart Grids allow an energy 

and cost-efficient balance to be established 

between a large number of electricity consumers, 

electricity producers and – in the future – 

increasingly also storers of electrical energy. 

mobilitY | NEW DIMENSIONS 9

What does common sense suggest? 

On the subject of “Mobility – always on the move” 

The life cycle costs for a building include all the costs for the structure: from the project idea, 

construction, through utilisation, to demolition. Using a few figures I would like make some 

life cycle-optimised comparisons and provoke thought – this time on the subject of mobility 

and energy. Enjoy it! 

Andreas Karg 

• Increase in the travel time for Northwest Airlines transatlantic flights 

since the average speed was reduced by 16 km/h 

• Fuel saving per aircraft due to the reduced speed 

• Cost saving that is to be achieved overall by reducing the speed by a few minutes 

8 minutes 

613 litres 

42 million dollars 

• Incentive in Germany for the purchase of a new car 

and scraping a car registered before 14 January 2000 

• Actual average value of a ten year old Audi A4 1.8 

• Actual average value of a ten year old VW Golf 1.8 

2,500 euro 

5,444 euro 

5,250 euro 

• Ships attacked by pirates in 2003 

445 ships 

• Ships attached by pirates in 2008 

293 ships 

• Factor by which the insurance premiums for freighters have increased in the past twelve months 10 

• Length of the longest dead straight section of railway track in the Nullarbor Desert 

• Length of the longest railway line in the world 

• Length of the Bregenz – Vienna railway link 

• Length of paved roads built in Europe with the involvement of Rhomberg 

478 kilometres 

9,297 kilometres 



• Number of cars per capita in Luxemburg 

• Number of cars per capita in Vorarlberg 

• Number of cars per capita in China 

• Number of cars per capita in Somalia 

• Forecast number cars per capita in China in 2050 

1.7 people 

2.0 people 

33.0 people 

10,000 people 

4.0 people 

• Cars and lorries sold in the first half of 2009 in the largest car market, the USA 

• Cars and lorries sold in the first half of 2009 in China 

4.8 million 

6.0 million 

• Portion of private energy consumption from renewable energy in Turkey in 2007 29.9% 

• Portion of private energy consumption from renewable energy in Latvia in 2007 50.2% 

• Portion of private energy consumption from renewable energy in Germany in 2007 9.0% 

• Portion of private energy consumption from renewable energy in Austria in 2007 28.5% 

All figures are from in-house projects and calculations, the press, as well as international studies 

10 NEW DIMENSIONS | LIFE CYCLE OPTIMISER

Optimisation starts with the planning 

Rhomberg Facility Management provides consultancy service for Swiss business centre 

In St. Gallen, eastern Switzerland, a new business centre 

with around 2,100 m 2 floor space is being built based on 

the Rhomberg principle for sustainable building usage. 

The commercial property was designed with five floors 

and a two-floor underground car park by ARGE KIMO 

AG/Rhomberg Bau AG. Completion is planned for the end 

of 2010. 

The foundation stone for the sustainable project development 

was laid together with Swiss colleagues at 

Rhomberg Bau AG. Principles for sustainability in relation 

to usage, occupant well-being, infrastructure, energy and 

life cycle costs were defined and measures derived from 

them. The implementation of these measures has been 

monitored during the project. 

The next step was to critically check the planning in 

relation to the operation. The resulting recommendations 

for optimisation were provided to the project management. 

The “Stahl” business centre features ambitious architecture and life cycle 

optimised planning. 

An operational concept was prepared at an early stage. 

In addition, the life cycle costs were calculated to be able 

to further optimise the planning. 

Tobias Vonach 

Milestones for Facility Management 

Optimising the property life cycle 

• Return assessment 

• Life cycle cost assessment 

• Planning optimisation and 

support 

• Analysis of needs and 

utilisation concepts 

• Strategy development 

• Check on possible 

changes in use 

• Organisation of the 

demolition via Rhomberg 

Recycling 

Change in 

use/ 

demolition 

Planning/ 

design 

Utilisation 

Preparation/ 

construction 

Facility Management’s services in the property life cycle 

• FM controlling 

• Implementation and 

removals management 

• Check on the documentation 

• Service and 

maintenance planning 

• Implementation of CAFM 

• Property evaluation 

• Organisation optimisation 

• Portfolio management 

Planning optimised in relation to life cycle costs and energy 

consumption is a critical cornerstone of the highly regarded 

Rhomberg research project: the LifeCycle Tower is to be a 

wooden high-rise building with 20 floors. Specialists from 

Facility Management were also represented on the interdisciplinary 

team. They continuously and critically assessed 

the planning from the point of view of the organisation 

operating the building, the users and the investors. 

As a result the facility managers were able to provide valuable 

information on the optimisation of the mix and utilisation 

of the floor space by means of a long-term analysis of 

returns. In addition the advantage of the faster construction 

on the returns from the project, as compared to a 

conventional build, were illustrated. Various project variants 

were evaluated financially with an early forecast of the life 

cycle costs, and the difference in relation to conventional 

project development was illustrated. As a result the floor 

area is easier to market, the user requirements are taken 

more into account and smooth operation is ensured. 

Tobias Vonach 

facility management | NEW DIMENSIONS 

11

LifeCycle Tower 

International landmark project for sustainable urban timber construction 

An interdisciplinary research team under the leadership of Rhomberg Bau 

is developing the “LifeCycle Tower”, an energy-producing building made 

of wood. With 20 floors it is the world’s highest wooden high-rise building. 

The first public presentation of the landmark project for urban timber 

construction generated a very positive international response. 

In recent years Rhomberg has been involved in a basic research project 

in which in principal feasibility of wooden high-rise buildings was demonstrated 

(see report in the last issue of Dimensions). Now an interdisciplinary 

research team under the leadership of Rhomberg has set itself the goal 

of developing a practical, energy-efficient wooden high-rise building of 

prefabricated design with up to 20 floors. Along with the project initiator 

Rhomberg, the Vorarlberg architect Hermann Kaufmann, well-known for 

sustainable construction, the international engineering consultants Arup, the 

Austrian timber construction company Wiehag, as well as the Graz University 

of Technology are involved in this project of the future, which is sponsored 

by Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). 

LOW LIFE CYCLE COSTS 

The goal is to prepare a comprehensive building concept for the construction, 

building services and facade – including planning documentation suitable 

for submission for a fictive location. To be able to realise the height of 20 

floors technically, financially and ecologically, usage is made of an innovative 

prefabricated design with wooden modules that is to meet the requirements 

for fire protection, acoustics and structural strength. These characteristics 

are achieved using a modular design based on a wooden composite material 

that can be manufactured on an industrial scale. This modular design is to 

form the load-bearing structure for an energy-optimised building. 

SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL INTEREST 

The LifeCycle Tower was presented to the public in autumn 2009 at the 

World Resource Forum in Davos and at EXPO REAL in Munich. The interest 

and reporting by journalists, construction and property experts as well 

organisations involved in sustainability from Europe, America and Asia exceeded 

all expectations. Prof. Dr. Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek sees in the project 

a prime example of the forward looking protection of the environment. “This 

task is to create things for people who have ten times fewer resources 

than yesterday”, says the doyen of environmental research in Germany. “The 

LifeCycle Tower built of wood is a trend-setting project for a sector that has 

been a leader in the usage of resources for many years.” 

The combination of the construction material wood 

with an energy-producing facade reduces the CO 2 

consumption dramatically compared to conventional 

construction. 

EXPORT – OPPORTUNITY FOR DOMESTIC ECONOMY 

The LifeCycle Tower establishes the prerequisites for sustainable construction 

in the urban environment. Due to the prefabricated design, wooden 

high-rise buildings can be built internationally, both quickly and economically. 

As a world “landmark project”, it represents a massive opportunity for the 

company and also for the entire region. 

Michael Zangerl 

12 NEW DIMENSIONS | lifecycle TOwer

Vision and innovation 

Rethinking and looking forward are valued highly at Rhomberg 

The “economic crisis” is on everybody’s lips and everyone is feeling its 

effects to a greater or lesser extent. However, particularly in a crisis it 

is important for the survival of a business to rethink and identify new 

opportunities. “The current situation requires a total rethink and above 

all a look forward”, emphasis Hubert Rhomberg. “The situation at the 

moment is currently demanding a lot from us, but it has developed 

a very special vitality. Our goal is to further open up the competence 

network with other local businesses.” 

In recent months a few very innovative co-operations and projects 

have come about as a result. All the projects on the right were supported 

with grants from the FFG, the Austrian Research Promotion 

Agency. 

We view innovation as an important success factor that makes us 

stronger, even in these economically tense times. An essential success 

factor here is also the employees who recognise innovations as an 

opportunity and contribute to making it possible to implement research 

projects of this magnitude. 

Angelika Rhomberg, Michael Zangerl 

Urban wooden construction 

From the technical feasibility study as part of the project 8+, 

an implementation-orientated follow-on project has been 

generated. Our interdisciplinary research team is developing 

the world’s highest wooden high-rise building. 

Low life cycle costs, forward-looking energy design, the raw 

material wood and the innovative prefabrication are the key 

elements. 

The faster construction due to the prefabricated design and 

reduced space requirement on the construction site make 

the “LifeCycle Tower” extremely attractive for urban spaces. 

You can read more about this project in the article on the 

page on the left. 

“BRIX” measures and optimises the 

resource consumption of buildings 

Together with partners from science (SERI, ÖIN Austrian Institute 

for Sustainable Development, the Factor 10 Institute 

in Austria, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and 

Energy, Plenum-Gesellschaft für ganzheitliche Entwicklungs 

GmbH) and commerce (Lenzing AG, Grüne Erde GmbH) 

Rhomberg is working on the development of the “Business 

Resource Intensity Index”, know as “BRIX” for short. 

Expansion of research centre for tunnel renovation 

“Tunnel renovation from a single source” is how the innovative 

development program run by Rhomberg Bahntechnik 

can be summarised. 

For tunnel renovation projects all the necessary skills are 

matched to balance each other. For the railway operator this 

means a significant reduction in the costs with increased 

benefits. 

Relief for the lower Rhine Valley 

The latest on the tram ring 

It is indisputable that the traffic 

situation in the lower Rhine Valley 

must be relieved. We all suffer the 

direct effects of the congestion, 

particularly in the summer months, 

and on a daily basis during rush hour. 

The current Vorarlberg traffic concept 

has already addressed this issue 

with, among other aspects, the 

expansion of the rail network, the 

networking of all forms of public 

transport, prioritisation of these 

forms of transport as well as special 

consideration for the requirements 

of children and the elderly. A tram for 

the lower Rhine Valley, for which we 

have already developed a technical 

concept, would be a suitable solution 

to tackle the current traffic problem 

over the long-term. It would make 

a significant contribution to the 

objectives defined in the traffic 

concept and would also be welcomed 

by the public. A tram is not only 

good for the environment, it is also a 

mobility solution for disadvantaged 

groups and provides opportunities for 

regional and urban development. 

Possible solutions are currently 

under political consideration. With 

the traffic planning method used for 

the development of possible traffic 

variants there is the prospect of an 

interim report at the start of 2010. 

Then two to three options will be up 

for discussion out of the original 23 (!) 

proposals. 

Angelika Rhomberg 

lifecycle TOwer | NEW DIMENSIONS 13

The new Seeschanze 

Located between the lake, city and the mountains in the border triangle 

Impression of the new housing, at one with nature 

The NEW SEESCHANZE is an extraordinary project. Just 

as extraordinary is the collaboration of two well-known 

Vorarlberg construction companies. To utilise the opportunities 

of this unique site to the best possible advantage, 

Schertler-Alge and Rhomberg Bau are contributing their 

competence and experience to this joint project. To optimally 

exploit synergies, the two organisations have founded 

a jointly-owned company, Wohnen am See Bauträger 

GmbH, in which this sub-project will be implemented 

cooperatively. Between Bregenz and Lochau, between 

Lake Constance and Pfaender, between mother nature and 

urban infrastructure, this extraordinary residential project 

has an unrivalled position. 

The NEW SEESCHANZE blocks A to F comprise six 

structures that fit harmoniously into the park landscape. 

The offset arrangement of the blocks on the gently sloping 

ground was developed very carefully so that as many flats 

as possible have a view to the lake and the residents have 

as much privacy as possible. The green zones link communal 

and private areas. Access is via a residential road with 

trees and visitor parking. 

The ensemble planned by architects baumschlager eberle 

impresses with the sensitive treatment of the exceptional 

position and contemporary aesthetics that give the location 

its own identity and a unique atmosphere. During the 

development of the project, special attention was given 

to a sustainable and ecological form of construction. Low 

energy and operating costs are as much a matter of course 

as optimal support before, during and after the construction 

phase. Here for the first time we are using heat pumps with 

ground sensors for the provision of heating, combined with 

a solar plant for the provision of hot water. 

Susanne Dünser 

Exterior view 

You can obtain further 

information on the 

project from: 

Rhomberg Bau GmbH, 

Tel. +43 5574 / 403-0 

www.seeschanze.at 

info@seeschanze.at 

14 

NEW DIMENSIONS | HOUSING

Wohnbau investor pack 

Building blocks for a safe investment 

Property buyers can profit from the 

financial advantages of an investment 

property at several levels. However, 

only if you do everything right can you 

exploit a wide spectrum of benefits 

from your investment. This statement 

applies both to residential property 

that is purchased as purely a financial 

investment or for a pension fund, 

which is to be utilised as a residence 

for old age. To better advise investors, 

the Rhomberg Wohnbau team developed 

an attractive concept in 2009. 

In collaboration with external partners, 

special modules were prepared. The 

modules are specifically adapted to the 

needs of the customers and in this way 

make the decision to invest in a buy-tolet 

property easier. 

Martin Summer 

MODULES IN THE INVESTOR PACKS 

1 Tax advice 

2 Advice on grants for investors 

3 Financial advice 

4 Letting service 

5 Rental management 

If you are also interested: Further information on 

the investor pack is available on our homepage 

or directly from our property consultants 

Karl Nußbaumer or Hans-Peter Sohm. 

Ready for the electric vehicle boom 

First block of flats with an “electric charging point” is built in Dornbirn/AUT 

Anybody who is thinking about the 

purchase of an electric vehicle must 

soon ensure that he/she can connect 

it to his/her electricity supply. Although 

this is not a problem in private houses, 

it can be an obstacle for the purchase 

of an electric car or electric scooter 

for residents of units. As a rule, only 

communal sockets are available in the 

underground car park, which in the 

case of private usage can result in 

problems with the other residents or 

complicated billing for the power drawn 

from the communal socket. However, 

installing a private connection point 

in an underground car park is often 

complicated and therefore expensive. 

Rhomberg Wohnbau has identified this 

concern in our developments. In the 

residential development on Hoechsterstrasse 

in Dornbirn, each space in the 

underground car park is equipped with 

a switchable socket. The choice of an 

electric vehicle is therefore simplified 

for future residents. 

Martin Summer 

Advantages for environmentally conscious flat 

buyers: each underground car park space is 

equipped with a switchable socket. 

Car park supplies “Vlotte” with electricity 

VKW-Illwerke Group crowns the roof of its car park with photovoltaic panels 

270 photovoltaic modules transform the car 

park on the VKW site into a power plant 

designed to provide for the annual requirements 

of a “Vlotte” fleet of 45 electric cars. 

“Ländle” already has 30 operating 

electric cars. Now if they filled their 

“tanks” with electricity from photovoltaic 

cells, then this environmentally 

compatible concept would be perfect. 

Recently this wish has become reality. 

With „Gobasolar“, Goldbeck-Rhomberg 

offers the client a system-built variant 

which transforms what were once unproductive 

flat roofs and facades into 

power plants. If required, a „Gobacar“ 

system-built car park can be provided 

at the same time. 

Georg Vallaster 

KEY DATA FOR THE CAR PARK AND 

phoTOVOLTAIC PANELS 

• 2007 Erection of system-built car park 

• 2009 New roofing with “Gobasolar” 

• 1,330 m 2 roof surface 

• 270 Photovoltaic modules 

• Rated output about 62 kWp 

HOUSING | NEW DIMENSIONS 15

New perspectives for historical city centre 

Residential and retail building for Luger site in Dornbirn/AUT 

The realisation of this project has been 

pursued for a long time by our residential 

properties and project development 

groups working in close cooperation. 

We are in the midst of intensive negotiations 

with investors on the “Luger- 

Areal: Haus Mozartstrasse”. 

The units in storeys 2 to 5 of the 

“Luger-Areal: Haus Bahnhofstrasse” 

are to be built as owner-occupied 

apartments. Here we have succeeded 

not only in designing 3 extremely 

attractive penthouse apartments with 

spacious terraces over more than 

one storey, but also 2 – 4 room units 

with plenty of layout options, some 

as loft-style flats and exclusive room 

heights of up to 2.75 m. Because of 

their excellent location, they are also of 

interest to investors. 

Shops with attractive loft and penthouse apartments above are to be built in the Luger furniture 

store building: with exclusive room heights and spacious terraces extending over more than one 

storey. 

In May 2008, Rhomberg Bau secured 

an outstanding location with 

the purchase of the Luger site in the 

centre of Dornbirn. Since then much 

has been achieved: A cooperative 

venture with Hotel Martinspark GmbH 

has arisen during the planning of the 

refurbishment of the existing building 

on Bahnhofstrasse and the new 

building on Mozartstrasse. Working 

with a neighbouring hotel, we are 

jointly developing an extension to the 

adjoining hotel between the new and 

existing buildings. 

Cooperating like this brings both 

partners a number of advantages. The 

best use can be made of the available 

land by adopting a mutual approach 

to the distances between buildings. 

At the same time, it was agreed that 

we could use the hotel’s access to 

its underground car park and join our 

underground car park on to it, thus 

generating valuable usable space on 

the ground floor. In addition, we were 

able to secure extensive pedestrian 

and vehicle access rights for the optimum 

connection of the new and existing 

buildings over the land belonging 

to Hotel Martinspark. Hotel Martinspark 

GmbH gained the opportunity 

to expand its inner urban presence 

and extend with a more cost-efficient 

building. 

Both the existing building on Bahnhofstrasse 

and the new development 

on Mozartstrasse are currently at the 

planning approval stage, but already 

some partial approvals have been 

given with respect to nature conservation 

and landscape development 

legislation requirements. 

The unique selling points for the future 

businesses in Haus Bahnhofstrasse 

are the historic ambience and the 

possibility of using larger floor areas 

up to 2,200 m 2 . An application for use 

as a shopping centre has already been 

submitted. There are on-going negotiations 

with various interested parties 

for whom we can make freely divisible 

floor space available. 

Through the use of ecologically 

compatible construction, heating from 

renewable energy sources and further 

densification of development in urban 

areas, the Luger site is a shining 

example of the sustainable use of precious 

natural resources, land and soil. 

Karl Hafele 

LUGER-SITE Dornbirn/AUT 

Plan area 3,899 m 2 

No. of units 61 

Usable area residentia 4,868 m 2 

Usable area commercia 2,598 m 2 

Completion Spring 2012 

Project cost approx. 22.5 million euro 

16 NEW DIMENSIONS | HOUSING

Exclusive homes at the yacht harbour, Lindau/GER 

Yacht harbour in Lindau/GER – new residential properties satisfy discerning tastes. 

Urban living in Marktstrasse 33, Dornbirn/AUT 

Keeping all the 

options open 

High flexibility is the foundation for 

successful project development 

5,000 m 2 at Storchengrund in Vienna/AUT 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: 

YACHT HARBOUR, LINDAU/GER 

Following a successful start of operations 

in spring 2009 and the high 

interest in dream homes in extremely 

exclusive locations, work has now 

started on the construction of the 

Lindau yacht harbour development. 

This represents a further marker 

on the way to the realisation of this 

unique design from Prof. Ernst Kasper. 

Winter 2009 saw work start on the 

construction of the underground car 

park. The structural carcass of Block 2 

is expected to be ready in spring/summer 

2010. 

Sales in the first four months since the 

start of operations already cover more 

than half the investment cost. The 

whole project is planned to be complete 

by winter 2011. 

COMPLETED: MARKTSTRASSE 33, 

DORNBIRN/AUT 

The building for Alten Naturschau 

has been completely refurbished. 

Modern and historic styles are combined 

in perfect harmony. Creating 

a new meeting point for urban living 

from a former natural history museum 

required the investment of a great 

deal of time and commitment in an 

interesting design with a high flexibility 

of use, low construction and operating 

costs, skilful marketing and engineering 

solutions. The result is an appropriate 

mix of restaurants, business, living 

space, art and architecture. 

The handover of the property, which 

has 3,200 m 2 of usable floor space 

and cost 4.9 million euro, took place in 

spring 2009. 

CONSTRUCTION START IN 

SPRING 2010: 

STORCHENGRUND, VIENNA/AUT 

Vienna 15 is to have a major urban 

development with a 3-star hotel, offices, 

shops and underground car park 

in a location with good road links. 

The land belonging to Rhomberg 

subsidiary Storchengrund GmbH & 

Co KG and Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft 

mbH has a total area of almost 

5,000 m 2 and extends from Stiegergasse 

along the left side of Wienzeile 

to Storchengasse. The approval process 

is anticipated to be completed before 

the end of 2009, while the search 

for an investor for the hotel complex 

continues, setting further milestones 

on the way to another successful 

project in Vienna. 

Sandra Hermes 

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT | NEW DIMENSIONS 17

«byggnin» – Building Swedish style 

Rhomberg structural engineering teams in Sweden 

Since September 

2009, nine structural 

engineering workers 

have been living and working in 

Malmö , Sweden – far from their home 

base in Vorarlberg. The team members 

around foremen Jürgen Moosmann and 

Christoph Speckle faced challenges not 

just in their professional lives. All the 

employees spent the whole of the first 

month in Malmö. Then a shift system 

was devised which allowed the employees 

to take turns in spending a week 

with their families. 

Track slab FROM COPEN- 

HAGEN/DK TO MALMÖ/SE 

The professional challenge came in 

the form of a twelve kilometre long 

rail line, which must be constructed as 

track slab by April 2010. It will form 

part of the future rail link between 

the city centres of Copenhagen and 

Malmö. The teams were given a week 

of special training in Rhomberg Station 

to deal with the special demands of 

concreting the track slab. 

PERSONNEL SERVICE 

SUPPORTS THE STRUCTURAL 

ENGINEERING TEAMS IN 

SWEDEN 

Personnel Assistant Kim Grive prepared 

the “Swedes” with a refresher 

course in English sufficient for the 

linguistic challenge and stands by to 

provide help or advice to the team at 

any time. 

Reinhard Moosmann 

DATES & FACTS 

Client Banverket Produktion 

Quantities approx. 41 million euro 

Construction period September 2009 to March 

2010 (scheduled) 

Construction works 13.2 km track slab with 

6 turnouts (10,000 m 3 concrete), 5 km ballasted 

track, 6 expansion joints) 

Precision landing in high rise development 

Only 8 months for Blocks A and B in Sandgrubenweg Housing Development, Bregenz/AUT 

Right next door to Rhomberg headquarters 

in Bregenz/AUT, Rhomberg 

specialists demonstrated to a circle of 

interested colleagues how to complete 

a construction project, perfectly and 

on-time. Karl Fussenegger and his 

team built Blocks A and B in record 

time. Work started in January 2009, 

the last touch was completed in 

August – and that happened despite 

the extraordinary challenges the architecture 

posed for the various tradesmen. 

Some interesting details: the surveying 

work was carried out by our 

new surveyor Christoph Pachoinig in 

agreement with the foreman to the 

great satisfaction of all the project 

participants. During the coldest part of 

the year, the team kept themselves fit 

with “healthy snacks”. Throughout the 

whole construction period, the hardhat 

policy was strictly observed by 

everyone present on site. 

Josef Boss 

DATES & FACTS 

Client Rhomberg Bau GmbH 

Construction period Blocks A and B 

January to August 2009 

Feature Pilot project for sustainability in multistorey 

residential buildings that have the qualities of detached 

houses 

Quantities 6,700 m 3 concrete, 500 tonnes steel, 

14,000 m 2 deck formwork, 5,000 m 2 wall formwork, 

2,500 m circular formwork, 25,000 manhours 

18 NEW DIMENSIONS | STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Our conversion and modernisation team uses striking cartoon drawings to promote its extensive range of professional building services. 

Because living is life 

Rhomberg makes child’s play of building alterations 

Many clients long for comfort and ambience, 

but every client wants something 

different. To achieve complete 

client satisfaction requires a great 

deal of flair and years of experience. 

These very qualities our conversion 

and modernisation experts possess, as 

demonstrated by their wide range of 

successful projects. 

PLANNING AND KNOW-HOW 

Our conversion and modernisation 

team has been operating for ten 

years and knows thousands of clever 

techniques and tricks – and the opportunities 

for cost-saving that can be 

explored during the planning phase. 

Often the customer is offered several 

DI Gerhard Vonbank (seated, 2 nd right) and his 

team know what customer focus is: “With us 

the client can put his feet up.” 

options from which he can choose the 

one that suits him best. 

EFFICIENT RENOVATION AND 

FUNDING DEAL 

The State of Vorarlberg is currently 

offering large, interest-free loans for 

the renovation of old properties from 

its subsidised public housing financing 

fund 09/10. This is encouraging 

many clients to consider renovation, 

especially as our team supports the 

client throughout the whole application 

process. 

RENOVATION REDUCES 

OPERATING COSTS 

In recent years energetic renovation 

has become increasingly important. 

Our team has acquired an extra-wide 

range of knowledge in this specialist 

field and can reduce energy costs in 

all types of buildings. We use a thermal 

imaging camera to identify sources of 

energy loss and draw up appropriate 

solutions for our customers. Recent 

developments in technology mean that 

even existing buildings can be brought 

up, at least partially, to the standard 

and energy efficiency of a Passivhaus. 

Milena Simonovic 

“Working in existing 

buildings often brings 

unexpected things to 

light. So every day sets 

a different challenge 

and we often require new solutions 

quickly. Therefore exchanging experience 

in the team is very important.” 

Manuel Schelling, a member of the conversion 

and modernisation team 

“Work is fun because 

the team is motivated 

and successful. In 

existing buildings we 

come across all sorts 

of problems. Only a good team can 

solve them.” 

Bernd Raica, a member of the conversion and 

modernisation team 

CONVERSION AND MODERNISATION 

WORKS 

Conversion, extending, developing, refurbishment 

of residential properties, consulting 

services for refurbishment, energy, infrared 

thermography 

If you require professional support for the conversion 

or modernisation of existing buildings, 

then Gerhard Vonbank would be very pleased 

to help. 

You can reach him on +43 5574 / 403-320 or 

by e-mail at gerhard.vonbank@rhombergbau.at 

CONVERSION & MODERNISATION | NEW DIMENSIONS 19

Variety on minor works sites 

The common denominator is craftsmanship, perfection in every detail 

This year, 24 skilled hands have once again shown how impressively 

a well-trained team can perform. The number and diversity of the 

projects undertaken by Herbert Zitz and his minor works team 

provides them plenty of variety. The flexibility and professionalism 

of the Dornbirn/AUT-based team is demonstrated by the numerous 

projects they have completed rapidly and smoothly for both private 

and commercial clients. 

Herbert Zitz 

GATEKEEPER’S LODGE, 

BREGENZ/AUT 

The Gatekeeper’s Lodge at Marienberg 

Monastery is a listed building. The 

chimney and cornice in the area of the 

roof were renovated with appropriate 

care and attention. 

BLUM BESCHLÄGE, 

FACTORY 7, DORNBIRN/AUT 

This furniture fittings manufacturer 

required a box culvert for flood protection 

at its new Factory 7 development 

in Satzbach. The 150 m long box section 

culvert formed the base for the rail 

connection to the Blum container store 

and the Rhomberg resource centre. 

Even intensive downpours of rain 

and the resultant flooding of the site 

could not put a brake on the team’s 

progress. 

20 NEW DIMENSIONS | MINOR WORKS

VORARLBERGER HOF, 

DORNBIRN/AUT 

The tradition-rich restaurant in the 

centre of Dornbirn expresses its hospitality 

with a new entrance area. It was 

renovated by our minor works team, 

who concreted the new steps and 

canopy and rendered the complete 

entrance area. 

ÖLZ MEISTERBÄCKER, 

DORNBIRN/AUT 

To ensure that the wholesale bakery’s 

loaves taste just as good as homemade, 

Ölz Meisterbäcker in Dornbirn 

installed a new washing unit for its 

plastic containers. The minor building 

works team poured concrete, installed 

pipes and ducts, and laid asphalt, all in 

compliance with the special requirements 

of foodstuff manufacturing. 

Even alterations to the existing buildings 

were carried out without interrupting 

production. 

SEWER CHANNEL IN FORACH, 

DORNBIRN /AUT 

The Dornbirn City Council instructed the renovation 

of the Forach sewer channel. The sewer 

work was carried out under difficult conditions: 

the sewage had to be diverted by pumping and 

small branch inlets were built into the sulphateresistant 

concrete invert. 

DATES & FACTS 

Building services Conversions, extensions, minor works 

such as garden walls or wall openings, plasterwork, insurance 

repairs of all kinds. 

Herbert Zitz would be pleased to help if you need professional 

support for your minor works site. You can contact him on 

+43 5572 / 202 401-481, or +43 664 / 254 25 75 (mobile) 

or by e-mail at herbert.zitz@rhombergbau.at 

MINOR WORKS | NEW DIMENSIONS 21

With 104 apartments and next door to the main railway station, this is one of the largest low-energy buildings in Salzburg. 

The Formula 1 of housebuilding 

The Passivhaus is also leading the field in housebuilding 

Years of experience and a solutionsorientated 

spirit of cooperation 

between all project participants are 

the tools we use today to shape the 

homes of tomorrow. 

That’s how we secure pole position 

in housebuilding: For more than three 

years now, our “racing team” has been 

successfully constructing multistorey 

residential projects to Passivhaus 

standards. The optimised building 

envelope, heat recovery from exhaust 

air and the passive use of solar energy 

reduce heating oil consumption and 

consequentially lower heating energy 

costs. 

This successful practical implementation 

has brought us expertise and 

experience in the field of heat-energyoptimised 

buildings. The low-energy 

residential units of the social housing 

organisation Salzburger Wohnbaugesellschaft 

right next to Salzburg 

main railway station have been occupied 

since the beginning of the year. 

With 104 apartments, each one with 

convenient dwelling ventilation, this is 

one of the largest low-energy buildings 

in Salzburg. 

The start of summer saw 50 Passivhaus 

dwellings handed over to tenants 

of Alpenländische Heimstätte in 

Bregenz. In this project, a semicentral 

ventilation system was used: air 

prewarming and heat recovery are 

centralised, while user-oriented air 

flow control is performed locally. This 

ensures a smooth “pit-stop” with 

optimised operating and maintenance 

costs. 

“Thanks to the excellent 

cooperation with 

Rhomberg Bau we 

were able to see our 

challenging projects 

smoothly and efficiently.” 

Prok. Ing. Willi Muzyczyn, 

Alpenländische Heimstätte 

On the finishing straight is Block A on 

the Sandgrubenweg housing estate 

in Bregenz, which has been built to 

Passiv haus standards in accordance 

with the Vorarlberg’s state building 

regulations. Here the innovative results 

of the research project “inkl.wohnen” 

were augmented with the comfort 

and convenience of Passivhaus living 

to offer an extraordinary indoor 

environment quality. The other blocks 

in Sandgrubenweg have been designed 

as low-energy buildings. Now 

the calculated energy savings can be 

compared to the actual consumption 

figures. 

In the Alpenländische Heimstätte 

project in Bregenz with its 74 housing 

units, we are building what is the largest 

residential development to Passivhaus 

standards currently under way 

in Vorarlberg. In addition to benefiting 

from the ventilation with heat recovery 

systems normally found in Passivhaus 

designs, residents in this development 

can also separately regulate the 

temperatures of each room through 

the underfloor heating using special 

convenience controllers. 

The latest technologies and continuous 

innovation within a strict set of 

rules – that does not just describe 

Formula 1, it also applies to building 

the homes of the future. And perhaps 

Formula 1 will accomplish something 

we have already achieved: dispensing 

with oil as a source of energy. 

Andreas Karg 

22 NEW DIMENSIONS | GENERAL CONTRACTING

The three blocks of project V111 on Max-Halle Strasse, also to a Passivhaus design, are already complete (right). 

The largest residential development to Passivhaus standards in Vorarlberg V110/112 is being built on Arlbergstrasse in Bregenz (left). 

Architects in conversation 

Interview with architect Christian Matt from architects Dorner/Matt Bregenz/AUT 

Is the outlook good for the success of the Passivhaus concept 

in multiple-occupancy buildings? 

Christian Matt: We can see changes in attitude to the way we use resources at all 

levels of society. The subjects of energy generation and consumption are considered 

on a much more scientific basis today than they were ten years ago. This has major 

effects on multiple-occupancy buildings. I see the Passivhaus as part of a longer 

term development within the framework of a universal Darwinian evolution and 

certainly not as an end point. 

Today we have adopted technology which is focused on achieving airtightness and 

optimising insulation. In the medium term, we are certain to leave this path again and 

concern ourselves with new technologies. I believe in the inventiveness of mankind. 

Architect Christian Matt discusses 

the future for the Passivhaus 

and the requirements of his construction 

partners. 

What makes a construction project is a success or not? 

Christian Matt: A successful project can only result if all the participants are treated as 

equal partners. That means, everyone from the architect to the main contractor to the 

craftsman must take the interests of the other stakeholders seriously. The way they 

interact and how they communicate with one another play a critical role. 

How do you find working with Rhomberg? 

Christian Matt: The equal partnership approach I mentioned earlier worked very well 

in our last cooperative project “Arlbergstrasse – Wohnen im Park”. And the Alpenländische 

Heimstätte went well from the point of view of the client. 

As an architect, what advantages do you see from having a 

general contractor as a partner? 

Christian Matt: Short communication channels, a single point of contact and last but not 

least the ease of discussing technical matters are the crucial factors. We have also 

found that by forming an expert team we can complete processes quicker without 

the quality of the work and architecture suffering as a result. 

Thank you for speaking to us! 

Frieda Moosbrugger 

KEY DATA FOR THE 

FOUR PASSIVHAUS-PROJECTS 

Units 247 apartments 

Gross floor area 18,820 m 2 

Solar collectors 542 m 2 

Ventilation Over 80 % heat recovery 

Contribution to environmentally 

conscious mobility 270 covered 

bicycle parking spaces 

GENERAL CONTRACTING | NEW DIMENSIONS 23

IDEAS 

WE RECOGNISE AND RESPECT 

THAT 

THE NEEDS OF 

LAST. 

PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. 

CORPORATE IDENTITY (CI) 

Building a common identity for the Rhomberg Group and its companies 

Who are we, when we look under the surface of our defined 

company activities and company structures? How do we 

appear and how do we wish to be perceived in the sense of 

the “inner truth” of our company – our company strategy? 

All these questions emerge time and time again when you 

consider corporate identity. The consistent market presence, 

the “CI” - the company’s identity as the basis for a 

strong public image - is often limited to a graphical interpretation. 

There are always three aspects to a functional, integrated 

corporate identity: 

1 Corporate Communications (CC), 

how the company communicates 

2 Corporate Design (CD), 

how the company appears 

3 Corporate Behaviour (CB), 

the company’s culture or code of behaviour 

Only if all these aspects are properly considered and put 

into practice, can an integrated, concise company image, 

both internally and externally, be developed and the company 

regarded as being authentic. 

Over recent months, the Rhomberg Group has been very 

intensively involved in drawing up the CI for Rhomberg and its 

subdivisions. 

The first results have already been implemented: 

• For corporate design (CD) we have written Part 1 of the 

CD manual as a branding guide with harmonised templates 

for PP presentations, project data sheets, advertisements, 

brochures, POS (Point of Sale) items and a guidance pack. 

The websites are being successively updated. 

• Increased emphasis is placed on the company’s core 

message in corporate communications (CC). We will not 

be content to use the conventional words “who, what, how, 

where, when” merely to inform people of our message, 

but will seek to reinforce it “why”: Why are we innovative, 

environmentally conscious, forward thinking? Why we are 

interested with this or that subject …! 

• We live every day according to our code of corporate behaviour 

(CB) – at the workplace but also in our leisure time. 

We work in a company that has set itself very high objectives: 

to work in a deliberate and sustainable manner for this 

generation and the next! Each of us is an ambassador for 

the company: We should also observe our code of corporate 

behaviour in the world outside work. In this way every employee 

can make a valuable contribution to the perception 

of the Rhomberg Group. 

Gabi Schnell 

24 NEW DIMENSIONS | marketing

julitec 

The new DMS/PMS platform will make project execution much easier 

WHY julitec ? 

The process began in 2007 with an organisational manual 

for project management. While doing this we recognised 

the need for a software tool to support our staff. This was 

confirmed by a survey within the company. After an exhaustive 

selection process we opted for julitec . 

WHAT IS julitec ? 

julitec is a software package that will support us in our 

organisational tasks and contribute to increasing the efficiency 

of our everyday work. Its main functions are: 

• Comprehensible project administration 

• Simple filing and searching of all documents 

• Improved communications 

(e-mail, responsibilities, duties, telephone numbers) 

• Traceable actions 

All business units will receive active support from the 

project team during the introduction of the new system. 

Special layouts, content and functions will be set up in 

consultation with each business unit to allow the system to 

be customised to their specific requirements. 

INFORMATION ABOUT julitec 

A julitec -info corner, reached from a link on the Intranet, 

was set up to provide continuous information. In addition 

we also publish the latest news each month. Jürgen 

Koblinger and Markus Arbeiter are the main contacts for all 

questions. 

As well as this, we also hold regular “coffee table” talks, 

in which project team members answer questions about 

julitec (every two weeks in Bregenz, monthly at our building 

depot and in St. Gallen). 

Angelika Rhomberg, Jürgen Koblinger 

In July 2009, after careful consideration 

and meticulous software selection, 

we started with the introduction 

of the project and document management 

platform julitec . It will be 

introduced in phases from mid-2010. 

“julitec will provide project assistants 

with a long-sought-after solution for the 

problem of document filing and project reports. 

Lists and statistics will be available 

at a press of a key. That will make our job 

much easier and allow us to concentrate 

on more important things than the endless search for 

documents.” 

Sandra Hermes, Project Development 

Christian Jauk, TU/GU Housing 

“I think it is very good that we will be 

working with julitec . The switchover will 

cost time and energy, but I am convinced 

that we are taking the right steps and 

julitec will save us a lot of time in the 

future on our everyday work.” 

“I see it as a benefit because julitec 

will simplify data processing and make 

project handling much more comprehensible. 

Synergies will become apparent 

within the corporate group. The ability to 

customise the the system for individual 

business units will be important to be able to optimally 

respond to the client’s requirements.” 

Bernd Raica, a member of the conversion and modernisation team 

julitec PROJECT PHASES 

Test operation until end 2009 

Working with test data and first predefined templates 

Pilot operation until mid-2010 

Working with real data with strongly interested business units 

Live operation from mid-2010 

Incremental roll-out to the Rhomberg Group 

The introduction will be carried out with various user groups. The first 

contact in the business unit follows the poweruser in the project team as a 

key user. After this phase, test users test the functions in a test environment, 

then all Rhomberg Group employees staff are added to the system. 

julitec ProjeCt team 

Jürgen Koblinger Project coordination 

Markus Arbeiter Project organisation and implementation 

Johannes Flatz Poweruser, key area construction projects + project space 

Torsten Neumann Poweruser, key area rail infrastructure 

Bernd Bischofsberger Poweruser, key area project management 

Norman Feyl Poweruser, key area project management 

Osman Kabaetli Poweruser, key area template integration 

Sandra Stadelmann Poweruser, key area addresses 

Angelika Rhomberg Poweruser, key area CRM, communications 

Philipp Waldraff Trainee, key area “on-site support” 

Dominik Wever julitec external project coordination 

ProjeCt Management | NEW DIMENSIONS 25

Centred on people 

Training opportunities and services for our employees 

Working Style Analysis (WSA) Do more, under less stress 

WSA helps our employees to be more 

aware of their personal style of working, 

and how to perform their duties 

better and more efficiently, while suffering 

less stress. It is also an important 

tool to ensure each employee 

can be used to the best of his or her 

abilities. 

Within a team the individual employees 

can more accurately recognise 

the working styles of their colleagues 

and managers. Certain behaviours can 

therefore be better understood and 

optimum cooperation achieved. The 

challenge for managers is to set the 

best possible framework for the natural 

working style of each employee. 

Working style analyses have already 

been successfully carried out with 

some of our teams. 

Trainee camp 2 ½ days of excitement and adventure strengthens team spirit 

The motto underpinning this year’s 

trainee camp was “Who am I – What 

can I do”. The aim was to promote 

and reinforce the personal and social 

skills of the trainees. The format of the 

camp again this year was taken from 

the Vorarlberg Children’s Village. From 

the start, the 17 trainees used the 

occasion as a chance to get to know 

their colleagues better and strike up 

friendships with people who work at 

different locations. One particular highlight 

was the visit of Gerhard Vonbank 

(Head of Conversion and Modernisation). 

Gerhard recalled his experiences 

during his periods of study and 

training, and that the springboard for 

his career was his time as a trainee 

mason. The apprentices felt personally 

involved and they were made 

more aware of the opportunities for 

their personal development at Rhomberg. 

On the final evening there was 

Go-Kart racing, when every second 

counted and the ambitions of trainees 

and mentors alike were aroused! 

Kindergarten Supporting the next generations 

Rhomberg supported the construction 

of the Villa Wichtel play area by 

providing personnel and material. 

The building work was carried out by 

Gökhan Dilli (3 rd year trainee mason), 

who met this challenge brilliantly. With 

the energetic help of the parents of 

the visitors to the Villa Wichtel, the 

children can now enjoy a good romp in 

the open air. 

“For me it is very important that my 

little one is looked after in the best 

possible way and feels at ease while 

I am working.” 

Petra Feichtinger, Group Financial Services, 

son Samuel aged 3 

“I find it good when I look out of the window 

and see what fun the children have 

when playing.” 

Andreas Karg, Building Solutions, 

daughter Ida aged 3 

26 NEW DIMENSIONS | HUMAN Resources

Dealing with children, junior managers 

learn how their behaviour and management 

styles can affect their colleagues. 

Management is child’s play Learning by experience for junior managers 

The participants spent 4½ days in the Vorarlberg Children’s Village in a somewhat 

different management role. The task was to set up an event on the theme 

of “Kronhalde Children’s Village 2010 – a clean place to live, which we preserve 

with our use of our environment and resources”. The staff available to the participants 

were 15 children from the Children’s Village. 

“I knew about the 

directness and honesty 

of feedback you get 

from children. What 

made an impression 

on me was how the techniques of striking 

up relationships with the children 

could be transferred into the everyday 

activities of management. The authentic 

intensive experience will ensure I exercise 

appropriate sensitivity in similar 

situations. An event that will remain 

with me for a long time!“ 

Ulrich Forster, Planning – Estimating 

“Implementing a 

project based on the 

method of learning by 

experience helped me 

explore my physical 

and emotional limits. The most beautiful 

aspect was the happy faces of the 

children and the way our team grew 

together as a group. I can recommend 

this style of learning because the 

knowledge gained is transferable to 

other fields.“ 

Daniela Berkmann, Personnel Accounting 

TIMETABLE 

• Morning: Theory and planning 

• Afternoon: Preparation of the presentation 

with the children 

• Evening: Reflection on the day’s events 

OBJECTIVES 

The objective of the workshop was to make 

junior managers more aware and conscious 

of their roles and to give them an insight into 

how their behaviour and attitude can affect 

colleagues – with children acting as colleagues 

to provide very direct feedback! 

PROJECT BASIS 

This management triangle acts as a leitmotiv for 

the participants: 

• Provide structure: Staff need structure and 

boundaries to achieve their goals 

• Give meaning: Motivation stems from having 

a vision and objectives 

• Promote self-esteem: Staff need 

self-esteem 

Comings and goings Changes in the personnel team 

Sandra Stadelmann has been a welcome 

addition to our personnel team 

since February. She assists Jürgen 

Jussel and supplies valuable support 

to the rest of the team. 

After two periods of maternity leave, 

Bettina Längle returned in July 2009 

to boost our personnel accounting 

team (60%). She is responsible for 

keeping the accounts of the work of 

railway engineering company staff. 

Bettina comes into the office for 2 

half-days a week and with the help of 

her teleworking station she can do the 

rest of her work at home and achieve 

the optimum balance between work 

and family life. Bettina takes over the 

duties of Andrea Mennel, who left 

the company in August to seek new 

career challenges. 

Building and maintaining networks Career fairs at technical colleges & universities 

Especially in these turbulent times, 

it is becoming more difficult to find 

qualified employees. We are making 

particular efforts to strengthen our 

networking with technical colleges and 

universities to further raise Rhomberg’s 

profile, with an international 

focus. This year we again attended 

several company exhibitions including 

Biberach, Dornbirn, Innsbruck, Munich, 

Stuttgart and Vienna. 

Karin Hubalek 

HUMAN Resources | NEW DIMENSIONS 27

Special service for a new hotel in Vienna 

Former office space becomes a stylish residence 

Above the roofs of Vienna the shell of the new hotel has been constructed. 

The corkscrew staircase has been completely 

rebuilt. 

Its central location in the inner city 

of Vienna directly on the intersection 

between the Ringstrasse and Franz- 

Josefs-Kai is a promising basis for the 

successful future of the hotel. Many 

well known companies’ headquarters 

are situated in the immediate vicinity, 

as are underground stations, the rapid 

railway service and CAT, the direct link 

to Schwechat airport. For business 

people looking for a medium or longterm 

place to stay, these are unbeatable 

advantages. 

TAILOR-MADE FOR BUSINESS 

PEOPLE 

The interior design and fit out of the 

Aparthotel has also been carefully 

selected to suit its target clientele of 

businessmen and -women: instead of 

the usual hotel restaurants, all of the 

guest rooms have been furnished with 

their own self-catering kitchens. The 

hotel also offers an interesting range 

of spaces for seminars and events. 

With a dedicated wellness area with 

fitness equipment and saunas, there is 

also plenty of chance to relax in luxury. 

SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE 

AS OUR CUSTOMERS 

The number of international companies 

investing in Austria is increasing. Consequently, 

it is quite easy to imagine a 

scenario in which our contacts do not 

speak any German. In the case of the 

Aparthotel / Uraniastrasse project, we 

needed to discuss a great number of 

details with the persons responsible at 

Pierre & Vacances, the hotel operator 

and lessee. It soon became apparent 

that it would only be possible to 

meet the tight schedules if we could 

communicate with our contacts in 

their mother tongue, so we decided 

to engage the services of a French 

interpreter for all meetings and site 

inspections conducted with the hotel 

operator – and the result of this was 

that we were able to move the project 

along at our usual pace. 

Rhomberg can now proudly look back 

on another important reference project 

in the region of Vienna, in addition to 

the range of office buildings, commercial 

buildings and underground car 

parks delivered in recent years. 

Together with a range of active 

marketing efforts, this has helped to 

strengthen and raise the awareness 

level of the Rhomberg brand in the 

east of Austria. 

Karl Gneis 

The Aparthotel seen from the Ringstrasse. 

HOTEL IN URANIASTRASSE IN VIENNA 

Special feature The 12-storey office building 

was transformed during the space of just a 

few months into the Aparthotel with 124 guest 

rooms (total floor space 6,500 m 2 ). 

Architect Dietrich/Untertrifaller, Bregenz/AUT 

Hotel operator & lessee Pierre & Vacances 

Order value 10,800,000.00 (ex-VAT) 

Client UNIQUA Personenversicherung AG, 

Vienna 

Construction period From July 2008 (after the 

European football championships, as there was 

a construction ban in the area of Vienna for the 

duration of the tournament for safety reasons) 

to the end of October 2009. 

General contractor ARGE Uraniastrasse 2, 

founded by Rhomberg Bau GmbH (50%) and 

city master-builder Architekt Franz Böhm GmbH 

(50%) 

28 NEW DIMENSIONS | TOTAL CONTRACTING

Centre for railway technology 

RCR (Resources Center Rheintal) offers a pleasant 

working environment 

The new centre offers plenty of space 

and a great level of comfort for our 

employees. Three tracks, a test pit and 

an inspection pit now have a “roof over 

their head”. Both pits can be driven 

over by trucks when covered. 

A supply network of installation shafts 

offers connections for electricity and 

compressed air. Two overhead gantry 

cranes each capable of lifting 12 tons 

add to the capabilities of the RCR. 

During the winter months the building 

can be temporarily heated, and a small 

office and sanitary facilities are also 

available. 

Planning for the railway technology 

centre started back in the autumn of 

2006. All building work and structural 

steelwork was carried out by our own 

departments. The access route to the 

western gate was also electrified. 

Simon Gallus Aberer 

A first modern station for railway technology has 

been built in the Resources Center Rheintal (RCR). 

Railway link for the stone quarry 

The entire area of operation of the RCR will profit from the new options 

The new construction of the railway link 

together with associated unloading 

facilties is a milestone in the development 

of the entire area of operations. 

During the course of the project, 

processes in the stone quarry have also 

been modernised to run in the most 

environmentally friendliest way possible. 

KEY FEATURES OF THE PROJECT 

• To start with, the existing tracks were 

removed and the bridge over the 

Fallbach river was rebuilt. 

• All work was carried out without 

interruption to rail traffic (processing 

of the rail-bound projects of the 

Rhomberg Group: Arlberg tunnel and 

Feldkrich station). 

• After the extensive deep foundation 

work (vibro-compaction stakes, 

sheet piling, soilcrete jet grouting, 

GEWI tension piles, in-situ concrete 

vibro-stakes and high-performance 

displacement stakes) the reinforced 

concrete work for the unloading 

facilities, the foundations and the 

unloading tower were delivered in a 

very short space of time. 

• At the same time as the excavations 

and earthwork, construction of the 

track and catenary wire systems was 

moved forward and in parallel to this 

the entire connecting track and the 

outside installations for the company 

Blum were created. 

• Mid-August 2008, the plant manufacturers 

started with the construction 

of the fully-automated unloading 

system with a throughput capacity of 

1,000 tons per hour. 

In accordance with the decision taken 

by the executive board, the construction 

of the new displacement building 

was realized in the space of just two 

months at the same time and without 

any interruption to any of the operations 

in the quarry. 

Thanks to the excellent cooperation 

between all parties involved and the 

optimized construction progress, the 

project was a total success in every 

respect. 

Roland Marte, Construction Supervisor, 

Underground Engineering 

RAILWAY LINK “IN STÖCKEN” IN THE 

WALLENMAHD AREA OF OPERATION IN 

DORNBIRN/AUT 

Construction period The deadline for commissioning 

and opening celebrations was already 

set at the start of the project as the 9 th of 

October 2009. 

Planning and official procedures were tackled in 

the spring of 2008, and the large-scale project 

got under way in March 2009. 

Total construction costs 8.2 million for the 

railway link to the quarry, plus an additional 

Euro 1.2 million for the railway link to the 

company Blum and the outside installations. 

CIVIL ENGINEERING | NEW DIMENSIONS 29

Crossing the Alps by train 

Work is progressing rapidly on the Brenner feeder line 

Berlin – Verona / Milan – Bologna – Naples – 

Messina – Palermo rail link 

1 OCtober 2008 

The Alptransit Brenner consortium, 

Rhomberg Bahntechnik GmbH and 

Alpine Bau AG were awarded the – to 

date – largest contract for a railway 

construction project in Austria. The 

beneficiary of the euro 260 million 

project is ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG, 

business division Unterinntal. 

The task is to supply and install the 

railway technology required for the 

newly constructed 41 km section of 

line in Unterinntal. This line from Kundl 

to Baumkirchen runs predominantly in 

2-track tunnels, troughs and subsurface 

routes. It represents the central 

link to the future Brenner Base Tunnel 

and is a section of the railway axis 

between Munich and Verona, which 

will thus also make it a key part of 

the “TEN 1” project from Berlin to 

Palermo. 

The new line at Unterinntal will 

shorten travel times between Munich 

and Innsbruck by 55 minutes and take 

the strain off the existing line and 

therefore also reduce noise pollution. 

Goods and passengers will be transported 

at speeds of up to 250 km/h. 

NOVEMBER 2008 

From the outset, time pressure is very 

high. Regular, scheduled rail traffic is 

already set to start in 2012. In order 

to meet the tight schedule and the 

quality challenges, the consortium 

team headed by Robert Kumpusch 

relocated from Bregenz to Terfen in 

Tyrol just a few weeks after the project 

was awarded. 

RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY 

REQUIREMENTS 

In this project, the challenges take the 

form of the high safety demands, the 

required durability and – of course – 

the cost-effectiveness of the project. 

The consortium team headed by 

Project Manager Robert Kumpusch 

is responsible for coordination and 

performance of the 13 different areas 

of the contract work for the A1 part of 

the project, as well as for the planning 

of six further areas of the contract 

work. 

30 NEW DIMENSIONS | RAILWAY ENGINEERING ALPTRANSIT BRENNER

7 JANUARY 2009 

Installation of the temporary systems 

starts on the first 5 km. This work is 

done by a consortium of Rhomberg 

Bahntechnik and K.E.M. Montage. 

16 FEBRUARY 2009 

Work kicks off for installation of the 

railway technology. A lot has already 

been done (status as of November 

2009): 

• 60% of temporary systems are 

installed (20.8 km of 34.4 km) 

• 55% of the backfill concrete has 

been cast (62,014 m 3 of 113,093 m 3 ) 

• 28% of the side paths are built 

(19,150 m of 69,140 m) 

• 18% of the spring mass system is in 

place (5,820 m of 24,000 m) 

• 3.5% of the firefighting water pipes 

are installed (1,200 m of 35,000 m) 

• 33% of the firefighting water wells 

are completed (one of 3) 

NOVEMBER 2009 

Work has started on the planning 

of the fixed trackway, the doors and 

gates for the lock systems, the ventilation 

systems and the firefighting water 

system. 

Work on the remaining areas of 

the contract scope (cable systems, 

structural engineering, noise protection 

walls and electrical engineering 

systems) is running at full speed. 

2010 

Planned start of the installation of 

electrical engineering systems. 

Dirk Diederich 

For the latest updates on how 

the project is progressing please visit 

www.alptransit-brenner.at 

(German language website). 

“Work in Unterinntal 

has got off to a good 

start. Last year we set 

up the entire project 

organization, and we 

have already made 

significant progress. With our highly 

motivated team and the efforts of 

the entire Rhomberg Group, we are 

confident that we will also be able 

to meet all future challenges to the 

complete satisfaction of our Client 

and that we will bring the project to a 

successful completion.” 

Robert Kumpusch, ARGE ATB 

KEY DATA FOR THE BRENNER FEEDER LINE 

PROJECT IN UNTERINNTAL/AUT 

Total amount of concrete 290,000 m 3 

Length of side paths 69,000 m 

Length of spring mass system 24,000 m 

Length of fixed trackway 71,000 m 

Total track length 142,000 m 

Total cable length 1,095,000 m 

Total length of fibre optic conduits 995,000 m 

Total length of firefighting water pipes 35,000 m 

Noise protection walls 27,000 m 2 

Total number of plant rooms 43 

RAILWAY ENGINEERING ALPTRANSIT BRENNER | NEW DIMENSIONS 31

Railways without electrical engineering? 

Although hidden from many, the benefits of this growing business field are felt by all 

Temporary lighting in the emergency escape tunnel is important for safety. The colour green is 

used to signal an exit. 

Socket outlets, emergency telephone and 

tunnel alarm system are integrated in a 

communication and power distribution cabinet. 

Most passengers who travel by train are unaware of the sheer level of electrical 

engineering which goes on behind the scenes, particularly in railway tunnels. 

The role of electrical engineering is to 

equip tunnels, sections of track and 

the associated operating buildings 

with the required electrical systems. 

Within Rhomberg Railway Technology, 

we now cover a wide range of services 

ourselves and not only provide the 

equipment for our own large-scale 

projects, but can also offer these 

services to third parties. 

Our range of services covers: 

• Traction power 16.7 Hz 

• Power supply 50 Hz 

• Data networks and 

telecommunications 

• Wireless technology 

• Installation of control and 

communication systems 

• Safety installations and protective 

devices 

Our services are also in demand 

across the entire group of Rhomberg 

companies. 

Here is an excerpt from the full list 

of electrical engineering services we 

offer: 

• Medium voltage installations 

(10 kV to 30 kV) 

• Low voltage switchgear 

up to 6,000 A 

• All types of cabling 

• Power distributers for construction 

sites 

• Lighting systems 

• Emergency lighting systems 

• Building installations 

• Video monitoring systems 

• Telephone systems 

• Time recording systems and access 

controls 

• Commissioning tests, recurring tests 

and E-checks 

Dirk Diederich, Martin Maguolo 

Upper picture: Sf6 medium voltage switchgear; 

where a 10,000 V supply is distributed and 

switched and the 10 kV supply is converted to 

the 400 V we need for the communication and 

power distribution cabinet. 

Lower picture: catenary wire in the Lötschberg 

tunnel. 

32 NEW DIMENSIONS | RAILWAY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

BBW is regarded as one of the leading railway construction companies in the Austrian market. 

Bahnbau Wels/AUT 

A modern fleet boosts quality and flexibility 

For more than 60 years now, Bahnbau Wels GmbH has been a renowned construction company in the Austrian railways 

market. Thanks to the high quality and flexibility offered by a state-of-the-art fleet, BBW has evolved into a leading player 

in the industry. Numerous domestic and international projects underline the commitment and dedication of the company’s 

employees. 

In order to remain in this position and 

maintain the required high standards, 

the company has invested in two new 

track construction machines, which 

will be delivered in the spring of 2010 

by Plasser & Theurer. The vehicles 

in question are an additional Unimat 

09-32/4S Dynamic and a USP 2010 

SWS. Both machines represent the 

state-of-the-art in their respective 

fields. 

The Unimat 09-32/4S Dynamic 

guarantees a quick changeover from 

continuous track packing to points 

packing, which can also be done continuously. 

Here, “continuous” means 

that the movable unit frame allows the 

packing machine to work on the track 

and points without stopping its movement 

along the track. Another important 

factor is the integrated dynamic 

track stabilizer, which is used in the 

same step to ensure lasting quality of 

the track position. 

The modern track refurbishing train is 

completed by the ballast distribution 

and levelling machine of type USP 

2010 SWS. Once the track or points 

have been packed, the required track 

bed cross-section is produced. Excess 

ballast can be stored in the ballast silo, 

which has a capacity of 10 m 3 , where 

it is then ready to be reused in places 

where there is not enough ballast. 

One of the key advantages of the levelling 

machine, USP 2010 SWS is that 

it offers a very high degree of flexibility 

on tracks and points whilst remaining 

sufficiently compact. Thanks to modern 

additional equipment, such as the 

swivel limitation or the dust depositing 

system, both the safety and comfort 

of nearby residents and the operating 

personnel are accommodated. 

Michaela Berner 

In spring 2010 two new track construction machines will be brought into service at Bahnbau Wels: 

one additional Unimat 09-32/4S Dynamic train and one USP 2010 SWS. 

bahnbau wels | NEW DIMENSIONS 33

Track Australia’s Achievements 

Business success is based on technology leadership and local knowledge 

100 

80 

60 

It is a pleasure that 

four years after the 

integration of Track 

Australia into the Rhomberg Group all 

milestones could be achieved: at the 

time of the acquisition, the company 

employed twelve skilled operators and 

had a high-performance tamping and 

ballast regulating machine with a track 

stabiliser to deliver optimum alignment 

of the track geometry. 

Now, Track Australia employs 90 staff 

and due to further investments in specialized 

rail plant and the development 

of track construction as well as rail 

structures resources, the company has 

achieved a leading position in delivering 

rail projects on the east coast of 

Australia. 

75 

90 

40 

36 

20 

23 

0 12 

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 10/2009 

Within four years the number of employees 

increased from 12 to 90. 

Business growth has been achieved 

in line with the Rhomberg strategy 

and is based on trusted partnerships 

and employees with an entrepreneurial 

spirit, high competence and 

local knowledge of the network. In 

addition, five employees from Rhomberg’s 

home country have joined Track 

Australia to support the drive of business 

excellence and achieve personal 

growth. 

SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP 

In 2008 a partnership was formed 

with Delkor Rail that provides track 

design services and specialized railway 

products. This partnership enables 

Track Australia to offer complete solutions 

from concept to completion and 

maintenance for rail track and structures. 

As a result, Track Australia is 

currently involved in all major interstate 

freight line upgrades in the Hunter 

Valley, in Sydney, between Sydney and 

Melbourne, Adelaide and Melbourne, 

Parkes and Cootamundra in New 

South Wales as well as in the Pilbara 

in Western Australia. As the next step 

Track Australia intends to foster whole 

of life rail infrastructure solutions for 

Australian network owners and to accelerate 

the integration of European 

based high performance technology. 

Garry Thuer 

From concept to completion: 

Track Australia’s success results from commitment 

to performance and service delivery. 

34 NEW DIMENSIONS | track australia

From a resurfacing specialist to a rail solution provider 

Seamless delivery of complex rail works 

Asset 

Management 

Design 

Track Australia commenced as a 

specialist in mechanised track maintenance 

and has now progressed to a rail 

track solution provider from concept to 

completion and maintenance. Core 

competencies include services such as 

alignment design of ballasted and slab 

track including turnouts as well as 

technical advice and project management. 

In addition the company delivers 

all track activities involved in constructing 

new track and rail structures and all 

maintenance activities of the rail 

infrastructure. Experience gained in 

track maintenance provides useful 

information for asset management, 

which completes the cycle of comprehensive 

rail infrastructure optimisation. 

The highly motivated team supported 

with high-performance machines, 

Maintenance 

Construction 

Project 

Management 

enables Track Australia to deliver 

tailor-made solutions to rail infrastructure 

owners, recognising their specific 

needs for metropolitan networks, freight 

lines, private sidings and loops. 

TRACK AUSTRALIA DATA 

1 

2 

LOCATIONS 

Headquarters (1) 

Sydney 

R3 / 391 Park Road, Regents Park 

NSW 2143, Sydney (top picture) 

Regional branch (2) 

Hunter Valley 

2 / 10 Huntingdale Drive, Thornton 

NSW 2322, Newcastle (lower picture) 

Hunter Valley Yard 

Cnr Pitnacree Road / Forsters Lane 

East Maitland, NSW 2323 

MANAGEMENT TEAM 

Garry Thuer Managing Director 

Richard Morgan Manager Projects 

Shane Whitehouse Manager Resources 

Michael Match 

Manager Business Development 

Sabrina Vonach Support Services 

COMPETENCIES 

Concept and design Feasibility studies, detailed 

design, design management, technical advice 

Track construction Ballasted track, track slab, 

turnouts, continuous welded rail 

Track Maintenance Asset management 

services, inspection and certification, major 

periodic maintenance (MPM), resurfacing plain 

line track and turnouts, ballast regulating, track 

stabilising and management of ballast cleaning 

Rail Structures Rail bridges (steel, concrete, 

timber), culverts, level crossings, drainage 

Project Delivery Outcome focused design 

and construct solutions, rail systems interface 

management, site mobilisation and logistics, 

project management 

Success Story Hunter Valley 

Construction and maintenance of heavy haul railways 

Australia is renowned for its high capacity 

freight trains and Track Australia 

has not only finished the heaviest haul 

railway in the world on behalf of Fortescue 

Metals Group in Western Australia 

(270 km, 40 t axle load), but has also 

established itself to upgrade the freight 

network of the Hunter Valley in New 

South Wales. Whilst the company has 

been able to continually strengthen its 

market positioning in mechanised track 

maintenance (tamping, lining, stabilizing, 

ballast regulating), Track Australia 

in partnership with Delkor Rail got 

awarded a major periodic maintenance 

contract by the Australian Rail Track 

Corporation (ARTC) in 2008. Scope of 

works include work planning, project 

management, safety management and 

delivery of track activities such as resleepering, 

re-railing, turnout renewals, 

track reconditioning, etc. Most activities 

must be carried out in between trains 

in very short track possessions. 

Moreover, Track Australia commenced 

the management of ballast cleaning 

activities in the Hunter Valley one year 

ago and has delivered five projects 

which included all track and turnout 

works for constructing new and 

extending existing passing loops as 

well as several rail bridges and level 

crossing renewals. All projects are part 

of the capacity increase and upgrade 

programme in the Hunter Valley. 

Garry Thuer 

WORKS IN THE HUNTER VALLEY 

October 2008 to October 2009 

400 km track resurfacing, ballast regulating 

and stabilising 

23 km ballast cleaning (management) 

20 km re-railing incl. continuously welded rail 

(CWR) 

7.5 km re-sleepering (concrete and timber) 

0.5 km track reconditioning 

48 turnouts replaced / renewed 

14 level crossings constructed / overhauled 

5 passing loops constructed / extended 

5 railway bridges replaced / overhauled 

The Hunter Valley commences approx. 2 car 

hours north of Sydney and comprises 700 km 

of plain line track and 610 turnouts which are 

designed for heavy haul railway. 

track australia | NEW DIMENSIONS 35

HSL Ankara – Istanbul, Phase 1 

Tamping the high-speed line 

In April 2009, Rhomberg-Kalebozan won its 

first contract for mechanised maintenance 

of the Ankara – Istanbul high speed line 

between Eskisehir and Ankara. The international Rhomberg 

team (core team from BBW, our newly trained Turkish technicians 

and two employees from the Rhomberg subsidiary 

Track Australia) were able to complete the project within 

three months. 

Initially, the Turkish State Railway Company (TCDD), which 

up to now had carried out all maintenance of its tracks with 

its own staff and machinery, was very sceptical about outsourcing 

this work to an external company – but was won 

over by the competence and quality of the Rhomberg team. 

This demanding challenge consisted of repairing up to 

110 km of the whole line (230 km) and replacing up to 

5,000 m 3 of ballast in just three months. The work could 

only be carried out during the night during track closures. 

A special challenge lay in the coordination of our teams 

with the TCDD work programme, as the client was used to 

changing previously agreed programmes at short notice, 

which required a high degree of flexibility. In the course of 

the project the work programme was jointly re-scheduled 

which significantly improved the project efficiency. 

The repair of the high-speed line was carried out and 

accepted pursuant to EN 13231-1 Railway Applications 

– Track – Acceptance of Works. Our work meant that 

numerous go-slow stretches could be eliminated so that 

at the end of the contract, 98% of the line could again be 

travelled at the maximum speed of 250 km/h. The remaining 

2% consists of track switch areas, overpasses and 

tunnels. The successful completion of this project provides 

the Rhomberg Group with an excellent reference in the 

field of repair of a high-speed line which allows speeds of 

up to 250 km/h. 

The success of this project means we are confident for 

the future. TCDD will shortly decide on the renewal of a 

105 km long line section and, in addition, the tenders for 

the annual maintenance contracts are being prepared. We 

are extremely well placed for these, as we are very well 

regarded by TCDD thanks to our high quality performance. 

We are looking forward to the new challenges. 

Gökhan Ipek 

Managing Director Halit Kalebozan (5 th from left) was able to persuade the TCDD to entrust the repair of the entire track system to his professional 

team. 

36 NEW DIMENSIONS | Rhomberg kalebozan

20 years experience in 

trenchless pipe installation 

Menegola AG strengthens the competence of the Rhomberg Bahntechnik Group 

THE FOUR TRENCHLESS PIPE 

INSTALLATION TECHNOLOGIES 

Pipe bursting This method can be used to renew 

an existing pipe with a new one in one go. 

A machine will pull the new pipe through the old 

one, using a chain consisting of a series of steel 

rods. Simultaneously the old pipe is burst with 

the help of a special attachment and pushed 

into the adjoining earth. Berstlining is suitable 

for pipes of up to 70 cm diameter. 

Press drilling A press drill machine can be 

used to install pipes of up to 60 cm diameter. 

In this process steel pipes are pressed into 

the subsoil using a special device. At the same 

time, the spoil is removed and conveyed backwards 

with the help of a drill head. 

With the acquisition of 

Menegola AG in the 

Spring of 2009 Rhomberg 

Bahntechnik AG has optimally 

supplemented its range of services. 

The company from Amriswil in Thurgau, 

Switzerland specialises in track 

construction, cable installation as well 

as trenchless pipe installation. 

Together with mechanical engineers 

numerous tools were developed and 

the processes optimised. In trenchless 

installations the surface remains 

largely intact, construction times are 

significantly reduced and substantial 

cost savings are made. Rhomberg 

customers can now also benefit from 

this service. 

Pipe ramming This method can be used to lay 

pipes of up to 2 m in diameter. In this process 

the pipes are rammed through the soil using a 

compressed air drive hammer. The steel pipes 

are installed in stages, and welded. After drilling, 

the soil core is flushed out with water or air. 

Moling technology This technology can be 

used to install pipes with diameters of up to 16 

centimetres. A standard building compressor is 

used to propel the mole into a certain direction, 

starting from a relatively small dug out pit. This 

makes it possible to install service and disposal 

pipes underground with great accuracy. 

Menegola AG has pioneered the technology 

of trenchless pipe installation. 

During the last 20 years this installation 

technology has been continually 

refined. 

Existing customers of Menegola AG 

include civil engineering authorities as 

well as local authority and railway utility 

companies for water and energy. 

Randolph Koller 

With all trenchless pipe installation 

methods the existing surfaces remain 

largely intact. This saves a substantial 

proportion of the cost of trench digging 

and reinstating and avoids traffic 

obstructions. 

menegola | NEW DIMENSIONS 37

Railway Technology Switzerland has many years of extensive experience in track construction, 

which is the foundation for the ongoing demand by both public and private customers. 

We build mobility for the future 

Specialists for ballastless and traditional tracks, and complex construction projects 

In Switzerland, ballastless track construction 

is one of the core competencies in the field 

of track construction. This method refers to 

track construction on a concrete slab rather than ballast. 

An alignment process is used to ensure that the tracks are 

positioned accurately. On high-speed lines and on urban rail 

networks passengers can feel the difference of an accurately 

aligned track. 

Another core competence is the management of complex 

construction projects when time windows are restricted. 

We were able to prove this during the rehabilitation of the 

Rehalp connection to the Forchbahn in Zürich and the 

simultaneous rehabilitation of the turning loop of the VBZ. 

In cooperation with civil engineering companies we were 

able to renew the installation, including all associated civil 

engineering and line installation works, within the space of 

two weekends. 

The construction of the AAR bus+railway is proof of the 

fact that we are also familiar with traditional track construction 

with ballast. In order to enhance safety, the existing 

track of the AAR bus+railway between Aarau and Suhr was 

moved on to the old routing of the SBB. The contract comprises 

new construction of 7 km of track, including 17 track 

switches. Time windows for the execution of the work are 

restricted, which makes this contract logistically demanding. 

Our extensive experience in track construction benefits 

many diverse operators of private tracks and railway networks. 

Andreas Förster 

38 

NEW DIMENSIONS | RHOMBERG RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND

CURRENT PROJECTS OF RHOMBERG 

RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND: 

SURBAUM-LANDERERSTRASSE, 

REINACH, SWITZERLAND 

Client Baselland Transport AG 

Constr. time From May to August 2009 

Contract value About 1.74 million Swiss 

Francs or 1.15 million Euro 

Packing tracks in Reinach: tracks are removed and then reconstructed over a distance 

of 750 m. 

Key facts 750 m length of track to be removed 

and reconstructed. A total of about 1,415 m 3 

of ballast is laid and foundations are laid for 

40 overhead line masts. One level crossing is 

completely changed and at a second crossing 

the track is moved along the stop. 

SEEFELDSTRASSE IN ZÜRICH, 

SWITZERLAND 

Client Consortium Seefeldstrasse 

Constr. time From July 2009 to Oct. 2010 

Contract value About 3 million SF or 

2 million Euro 

Key facts About 1,270 m of ballastless double 

track is overhauled. The contract involves 

the renewal of the base and top concrete, 

temporary track installations, reconstruction of 

the track drainage and the installation of about 

1,500 m of cable piping. 

Laying concrete in Zürich: the double track along Seefeldstrasse is overhauled over a 

distance of 1,270 m. 

FORCHSTRASSE IN ZÜRICH, 

SWITZERLAND 

Client Civil Engineering office of Zürich 

Contract value About 2.89 million SF 

or 1.91 million Euro 

Key facts Removal and reconstruction of a 

187 m long double track and 150 m long single 

track with turning loop (both ballastless track) 

as well as about 205 m traditional track with 

ballast. 

In addition, the installation of 4 track switches 

and construction of 10 foundation pads for 

overhead line masts. 

Installation of a total of about 730 m of cable 

pipe, construction of 30 inspection chambers 

and renewal of 460 m of overhead lines. 

Ballastless track in Zürich: in Forchstrasse the tracks were first removed and then 

reconstructed. 

TRACK CONSTRUCTION FROM AARAU VIA 

BUCHS TO SUHR, SWITZERLAND 

Client Canton Aargau and 

AAR bus+bahn 

Constr. time From July 2009 to June 2010 

Contract value About 2.3 million SF 

or 1.52 million Euro 

Key facts Installation of a total of 6,800 m of 

SBB I and SBB IV ballast track on concrete 

sleepers, and 288 m Ri 60N track on concrete 

sleepers. This involves the installation of about 

21,000 tonnes of ballast, the welding of 1,050 

rails, the laying of 10,075 concrete sleepers 

and installation of 17 track switches. 

RHOMBERG RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND | NEW DIMENSIONS 39

The commercial and residential property ‘Mühlehof’ will enhance the centre of the village of Uzwil and have an impact on the entire region. 

Revitalising the core of the village 

New commercial and residential property ‘Mühlehof’ in Uzwil, Canton St. Gallen, CH 

As the population grows, so do the requirements 

for infrastructure and services in a 

village. The population of Uzwil had to wait 

a long time for the revitalisation of its village 

centre. Having been commissioned as design and build 

contractor by the SIAT Fund, a Credit Suisse property fund, 

Rhomberg is undertaking the construction of the commercial 

and residential Mühlehof property in the centre of 

Uzwil. The new building will enhance the village centre and 

have a positive impact on the whole region. The Mühlehof 

has been designed to meet a number of needs. It includes 

areas for shops, restaurants, offices and apartments. Adequate 

parking has been provided in the underground car 

park. 

The building has been designed to be in keeping with the 

surrounding area. To achieve this, the building has been 

partly sunk into the slope of the terrain. The heart of the 

building complex is formed by an atrium which connects 

the different parts of the property and thereby unifies it. 

An attractive glass roof covers the shopping mall. 

Laying the foundation stone for the Mühlehof project as part of the 

revitalisation of the village centre. 

The first lease contracts have already been signed. Leases 

have been taken up by a Swiss discount supermarket, a fitness 

centre and two doctors surgeries. The opening of the 

Mühlehof has been scheduled for the end of August 2010. 

Philip Riklin 

40 NEW DIMENSIONS | RHOMBERG CONSTRUCTION SWITZERLAND

A clever combination of working and living 

‘lineAAR’ development in the centre of Aarau, Switzerland 

The development comprises 48 apartments, 

space for service and retail 

businesses as well as an underground 

car park. At the heart of the property 

is an attractive inner courtyard which 

forms the centre of this perimeter 

block development. The facade design 

underscores the homogeneous 

appearance of the building structure. 

Rhomberg Bau AG is the design and build contractor for the ‘lineAAR’ commercial 

and residential development in the city centre of Aarau. 

Rhomberg has been contracted as 

design and build contractor for the 

‘lineAAR’ commercial and residential 

development in the city centre of 

Aarau near the railway station. Demolition 

work began in August 2009 and 

the groundbreaking ceremony has 

taken place. 

The project was the winning entry of 

an investor competition and was developed 

by Rhomberg Bau AG in collaboration 

with architects Dietrich Untertrifaller. 

The solution has tremendous 

appeal. It expertly meets all relevant 

requirements and makes maximum 

use of the site in the city centre. 

The design of the project took architectural, 

ecological and social aspects 

into consideration. It will be built to 

Minergie-standard and completion 

has been scheduled for the summer 

of 2011. 

Andreas Bauer 

A new neighbourhood in Bern, Switzerland 

Residential development in Bern-Brünnen, site No. 10 

“The development in Bern-Brünnen, including 

site No. 10, is a positive example of a design 

that combines traditional and new aspects” – 

these were the words of praise of City of Bern 

President, Alexander Tschäppät. 

A new neighbourhood with about 

800 apartments for rent and sale is 

being developed in Bern-Brünnen 

over the next few years. On behalf of 

the Publica Pension Fund, Rhomberg 

is acting as design and build contractor 

for the development of 47 rental 

properties by February/March 2010. 

The Westside shopping centre, which 

is in close proximity to the project, was 

also constructed by Rhomberg. This 

development comprises two four-storey 

apartment blocks with commercial 

space and an underground car park. 

The two blocks run parallel to each 

other on both sides of a courtyard, 

which is open to one side, and are 

adapted to the contours of the sloping 

terrain. The apartments appeal through 

their generous and modern design layout. 

Some of the living-rooms are one 

and a half storeys high. These features 

give the apartments a ‘loft’ feel. 

Josef Jenny 

RHOMBERG CONSTRUCTION SWITZERLAND | NEW DIMENSIONS 41

This commercial and residential 

property in Lucerne, Switzerland, 

other than the Säntispark in Abtwil, 

is the largest project in Switzerland 

which successfully uses Rieder 

facade elements. 

«Concrete Skin» 

A second skin made of glass fibre reinforced concrete 

Sustainable building 

envelopes are more and 

more in demand. Proof 

of that is the impressive 

refurbishment of a commercial 

and residential property in Lucerne 

which features glass fibre reinforced 

elements (Concrete Skin fibreC). The 

new facade consists of prefabricated 

storey-high elements which are quick 

to install and allow the continuing use 

of the building during refurbishment. 

The project features 1,800 m 2 of ivory 

coloured facade elements which have 

been fitted using an invisible preinstalled 

aluminium support system. 

Walter Sutterlüti 

Rubin Architekten AG, Bern-Worblaufen, CH 

Creative expansion for Rhomberg Bau AG 

With the acquisition of Rubin 

Architekten AG and its eight 

members of staff, Rhomberg has 

increased its capacities in the Bern 

area. 

Rubin Architekten AG in Bern-Worblaufen 

has been successfully working 

on the design and construction of 

residential, industrial, commercial and 

service sector buildings for about 30 

years. Rhomberg Bau AG, which is 

a family-owned company, has established 

itself in the Bern region with the 

development of the high-profile ‘Westside’ 

leisure and adventure centre. 

Today these two companies together 

form a strong team. As of the 1 st of 

July 2009, Rhomberg Bau AG acquired 

the shareholdings of company 

founder Hans Rubin and co-owner 

Stefan Schärer. Rubin Architekten 

AG is now a fully owned subsidiary of 

Rhomberg and will continue trading 

under its existing name at its current 

location. At the same time, Rhomberg 

will relocate its Bern branch to the 

address of Rubin in Bern-Worblaufen. 

By using the synergies of the two 

experienced teams it is hoped to 

increase the group’s capacity in the 

Bern region. Both current and future 

customers will benefit from the combined 

expertise of the two companies. 

Marcel Maier 

42 NEW DIMENSIONS | RHOMBERG CONSTRUCTION SWITZERLAND

Rhomberg staff seen at the rear taking a look at provocative art objects: Antony Gormley’s ‘Allotment’ shows shapes of bodies that are falling or being 

dropped and which form a chaotic field of hopelessness. 

Art and culture in buildings 

2009 – a turbulent year 

The heavyweight objects ‘Body’ 

and ‘Fruit’, which are suspended 

just a few centimetres off the floor 

on the ground floor of the KUB, 

are part of Gormley’s ‘Expansions’ 

series. 

Just as it always was: the price of gold at an all-time high, property, gold, art. Bregenz 

has a new ‘Molo’, Linz is the cultural capital of Europe and hence worth a trip, the 

Danube and the power of the mountains – simply different, great. This year again we 

were able to welcome fantastic exhibition events: ‘Raw Material Snow’ at the Landesmuseum 

in Vorarlberg and Antony Gormley at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz. He wants 

to create further works in public spaces in Vorarlberg, he also wants to see Aida at 

the Festspielbühne and live transmissions on TV to bring our small Bregenz back into 

the limelight. The Landesmuseum Voralberg will close for the conversion works to be 

carried out by the architects Cukrowicz Nachbaur. We hope that our cultural interests 

will have a positive impact on the placing of contracts. 

It seems that we have had a change of generations in the cultural establishments 

of Bregenz: Yilmaz Dziewior, Director of the Kunsthaus Bregenz, was born on 24 

October 1964 in Bonn and is an art historian. He was Director of the Kunstverein in 

Hamburg from 2001 to 2008. In parallel, he taught as Professor of Art Theory at the 

Hochschule der Bildenden Künste in Hamburg from 2003 to 2009. The forty-yearold 

director Alexander Kubelka will be the new theatre director of the Landestheater 

in Bregenz, Vorarlberg. Kubelka was able to convince the interview committee with an 

innovative theatre concept and was selected over the other 55 applicants from the 

entire German-speaking region. In recent years this Carinthian has been directing at 

the Schauspielhaus Graz, the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus and the Wiener Volkstheater, 

amongst others. 

The Rhomberg Group has its head offices in Bregenz – we live here in a small 

paradise and really appreciate the fact. I would like to take this opportunity to thank 

the management and Rhomberg family who, despite difficult times, have continued to 

make cultural and sustainability concerns a high priority and thereby are strengthening 

the name of Rhomberg through its association with cultural interests. 

In this spirit, take time, time for yourselves, then one is rarely alone. 

Gregor Koller 

ART AND CULTURE | NEW DIMENSIONS 43

BEING MOBILE - Rhomberg Bau

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