Mariahilfer Straße

The ten-storey boutique hotel on Mariahilfer Strasse near Vienna's Westbahnhof is designed as an extension and redefinition of an existing four-storey building dating from the 19th century. The façade and parts of the interior are integrated into the new structure, which confidently marks the entrance to Christian-Broda-Platz and Westbahnhof. The proposed elevation accentuates the entrance to Mariahilfer Strasse and, in conjunction with the dome of the Café Westend building, creates a portal to one of Vienna's most important shopping streets. The volume of the building steps down towards the neighbouring buildings on Bürgerspitalgasse, creating a transition to the heights of Bürgerspitalgasse. The existing building is extended from its original form, continuing in an abstract manner with materials and window proportions consistent with the original. The lower levels will be used as a "Flying Theatre" - a 5D cinema. The upper floors will house a 120-room hotel and the top floor will feature a publicly accessible restaurant. The existing structure will be partially deconstructed where necessary, preserving some of the embodied energy.