Cogeneration Plant (North)

The Salzburg North cogeneration plant, a district heating and power generation plant, is located in the Itzling-West district, directly on the Salzach River and the West Motorway. Built in 1972, it was renovated in the 1990s to comply with new emission control guidelines. The architectural firm Bétrix & Consolascio designed a striking, organic design language that embodies the transition from brutalism to postmodernism.

Block I of the power plant impresses with its massive but curved architecture and a 70-metre-high free-standing chimney. The use of exposed concrete and stainless steel on the façade and the irregular cubature create a harmonious interplay of materiality and form. The smaller Block II, which represents the conversion of the old boiler house, is kept in a simple cube style, made of profiled glass and blends discreetly into the overall ensemble.

The power plant is equipped with combined heat and power generation and supplies the region with 49.5 MW of thermal and 13.5 MW of electrical power. The design of the entire site, including the striking oil tanks and the 44-metre-high heat storage tank, makes the plant a landmark of the city, impressing with both its functionality and its architectural presence. The harmonious integration of the power plant into the surrounding Baroque architecture is remarkable, underlining the diversity of architectural eras and styles in Salzburg.