A new home for Blattfisch

What does the new home for a school of Blattfisch have to do with Variotherm? More than one might think at first glance. About an environmentally conscious new modular construction with diverse requirements for the optimal indoor climate.

The leaf fish is a freshwater fish. However, "Blattfisch" is also the name of a company from Upper Austria active in aquatic ecology. And because the Blattfisch swarm – as the company's employee team calls itself – has grown considerably in recent years, a new office building was needed. This was built in the north of Wels and was constructed with employee-friendly and, above all, ecological aspects in mind.

Because working in harmony with the environment is practically a given for Blattfisch. The service portfolio of the Upper Austrian company ranges from aquatic ecological investigations to fisheries and nature and species conservation. With the heating and cooling solutions from Variotherm, Blattfisch has found a partner that also values sustainability.

The perfect modules – practical and time-saving.

The new office building was constructed using modular construction. The individual modules were prefabricated and delivered to the construction site, where they were then assembled on-site. The ModularWall is delivered with already integrated pipes, so they only needed to be connected to the manifold on the construction site.

For the new building, Blattfisch chose the Variotherm wall heating/cooling for drywall construction, equipping a total of 224m² of wall surfaces with it. The complete package delivery of the modules makes installation on-site not only practical and easy for drywall builders and installers but also saves time. The company Gahleitner, an Upper Austrian company, was also commissioned with the installation of the Variotherm products.

The finished result is not only visible but also tangible, as reported by the managing director of Blattfisch, Clemens Gumpinger: “The wall heating and wall cooling from Variotherm really deliver! Of course, the system needs to be properly adjusted. The company Gahleitner provided us with wonderful support here!”

The right climate – outside and inside.

On the advice of the installer, Gumpinger additionally acquired shading to "combat the problems where they occur." Because in times of heat waves, as have become apparent this summer, cooling is additionally supported. Overall, it was important for blattfisch to build prudently and carefully. In the interplay of air-source heat pump and photovoltaic on the roof, heating and cooling are almost energy self-sufficient; both on the facade and on the flat roof, greenery is growing, and rainwater is collected in a cistern to water the greenery that additionally contributes to building cooling.

For Blattfisch, it's also about the climate – not just outside, but also inside. Because the right indoor climate, from the reception to the back office, from large meeting rooms to offices, and from the boat garage to the laboratory, is central for Gumpinger. Constant temperatures without strong air movements make every room a feel-good room. With the Variotherm products, blattfisch can thus cater to the very different spatial needs – down to the last detail, such as in the dirt lock, where an additional 6 m2 VarioComp Modular Floor Heating was installed.

Last but not least, it is important for Gumpinger that his "Blattfisch swarm" feels comfortable and can continue to grow well in a brightly designed building with plenty of space for community, in a good atmosphere, and with a pleasant indoor climate.

Project board:

Variotherm Products: 
ModularWall for Heating and Cooling: 224 m² 
VarioComp Modular Floor Heating in Drywall Construction: 6 m2

Client: Blattfisch e.U., Wels

Installer: Gahleitner GmbH & Co. KG, Neufelden

Modular Construction & Electrical Engineering: ERMAFA, Vienna