Hotel Topazz in Vienna, Austria by BWM Architekten und Partner

Article source: BWM Architekten und Partner

The Vienna-based architecture firm BWM Architekten und Partner and Michael Manzenreiter have created a hotel on a 153m2 corner plot near Hoher Markt Square – a hotel that draws attention to itself while at the same time enhancing the historical fabric of the city centre with its originality. Hotel Topazz opened its doors in April 2012.

The building draws its height reference from the long row of buildings on Hoher Markt Square and leads its upper border via a distinctive rounded corner into Kramergasse. In this way, it shows its reverence for the previous building, whose facade was also characterised by a bold, rounded projection.

©BWM Architekten und Partner

• Architects: BWM Architekten und Partner, Michael Manzenreiter
• Project: Hotel Topazz
• Location: Lichtensteg 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria
• Design, facade: BWM Architekten und Partner
• Ground plan, interior design: Michael Manzenreiter
• Client: LENIKUS Group
• Completion: April 2012

©BWM Architekten und Partner

• Design, facade: BWM Architekten und Partner
• Ground plan, interior design: Michael Manzenreiter
• Construction management: LENIKUS Group
• Start of construction : January 2011
• Opening of hotel: April 2012
• Hotel data: 9 upper floors, ground floor, 3 basement floors, 32 rooms & 1 penthouse, 2,200m2 gross floor area, 4-Star Superior
• Operator: LENIKUS Hotel-und Gastronomiebetriebs Ges.m.b.H.

Diagram

Like its predecessor, this new project stands out in the cityscape: Its main feature is the distinctive facade with elliptical window openings and dark-brown mosaic cladding. The eye-like windows jut out slightly, thereby forming curved recesses on the inside. These serve as comfortable, rounded ‘lookout spots’ for guests, who can lounge in them while watching the hustle and bustle of the city below.

The staggered configuration of the elliptical windows mirrors the varying floor heights of the adjacent buildings in a playful manner and provides an easy-going, weightless contrast to the uniformity of the hotel’s historic surroundings.

The generous, glass-enclosed ground floor draws the eye to the hotel’s reception area and to the guest salon below, further enhancing the building’s inviting and urban character.

Diagram

The distinctive facade with its elliptical windows and glass tile mosaic surface forms a counterpoint to the continuum of Vienna’s historical centre with which it engages in a lively dialogue.

An aspect that played an integral part in the creation of the interior concept was the spacesaving utilisation of the elliptical windows as lounging nooks that afford guests a view of the city’s street life.

The interior spaces were designed and realised by Michael Manzenreiter. His concept is a modern interpretation of the world of the famous Wiener Werkstätte. The Hotel Topazz was planned with sustainability and resource conservation in mind in terms of the construction materials used, the building’s physical properties and its energy requirement. Its heating and cooling is carried out using the groundwater heat pump principle, and the building’s own deep-well systems are responsible for energy recovery.

Cross Section

Client: LENIKUS Group

LENIKUS is a successful Viennese consortium, which focuses on real estate- and urban development projects, the development of inner-city hotels as well as winegrowing. In the different fields of business LENIKUS will, together with its partners, make a contribution to urban development and thus contribute to an appreciation of the economic-, live- and cultural location of Vienna. In 2003 LENIKUS was one of the winners of the urban regeneration reward. Integral component of the corporate philosophy is the support of the Viennese art and cultural scene at the art-cluster Bauernmarkt. In 2010 LENIKUS was awarded the Maecenas, which is the most significant art supporting award in Austria. At the Vienna State Wine Review 2011 all three LENIKUS-wines were honoured with the gold medal.
BWM Architekten und Partner

The main competences of BWM Architekten und Partner are building construction and urban development, shop design and corporate architecture, as well as exhibition and museum planning. BWM’s work is based on diversity. Different educational backgrounds, points of views and interests enable the firm to be active within a wide-ranging scope of activities. The BWM team currently consists of approx. 40 people from the fields of architecture, sculpture, landscape architecture, industrial design and marketing.

BWM Architekten und Partner are inspired by architecture that remains up-to-date and significant beyond the present. Their aim is to find the best possible answer – tailored, precise and well considered – to each question. They are involved in all aspects of their projects from the initial idea to implementation. Recently completed and current projects include the 25hours hotel in Vienna (reconstruction and renovation of the existing 1970s building), the Gschwandner (new venue for art and culture, to be converted and adapted in 2013), the architectural design of the Klimt exhibition in the Wien Museum, as well as the ‘Genussregal’ wine rack for the Styrian wine grower Polz.

Tags: Austria, Vienna

Category: Hotel

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