Vienna’s Kärntnerstrasse was chosen to house the first European flagship store of the Swiss watch manufacturer. The fully mirrored, dark interior of the small shop dissolves space, as it were, and seems to cause the elegant watches on display to float.

• Bauzeit: 2007
• PlanerIn: Andreas Burghardt
• Client: Swatch Group
• Building type: Commercial
• Reachability: U1/U3 Stephansplatz
• Accessibility: during business hours
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

The ground-floor zone of Bike City and its adjoining wing time2live is entirely dedicated to bike use, wellness and an attractive communal space opening into a spacious residential courtyard. Large lifts, wide corridors, bike garages on all floors as well as in front of flats are likewise part and parcel of the concept.

• Bauzeit: 2006-2008
• PlanerIn: königlarch architekten
• Client: GESIBA, BAI
• Building type: Residential
• Reachability: U1 Vorgartenstraße
• In 2003, an urbanistic idea competition with the motto “Living by the Park” was organised for the lot adjoining Rudolf Bednar Park. The architectural studio PPAG was awarded the project directly adjoining the park, while königlarch architekten was commissioned to design the adjacent Bike City.
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

300 archaeological finds complement the exhibits of the Roman ruins below Hoher Markt in this new and ingeniously designed insert into the Generali Building passage. A narrow staircase links the excavations at the basement level with 200 sq m of additional exhibition space and the new lobby of the long and narrow addition with its smart aluminium façade.

• Bauzeit: 2007-2008
• PlanerIn: querkraft architekten
• Building type: Museums and exhibitions
• Reachability: U1/U3 Stephansplatz
• Accessibility: accessible during normal opening hours
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

Cavities in the 2.5-metre-wide base of the Albertina building act as niches linking outside and inside space. The barroom with its new entrances and window apertures opens up into the urban space outside and at the same time invites it in by means of the very felicitously designed seating niches opposite the long bar.

• Bauzeit: 2008
• PlanerIn: GABU Heindl Architektur
• Client: Burghauptmannschaft Österreich, Österreichisches Filmmuseum
• Building type: Theater and concert
• Reachability: U1/U2/U3 Karlsplatz
• Accessibility: during the business of the filmmuseum from 12.00
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

A research project conducted by the architects and commissioned by the Vienna Business Agency resulted in an innovative passive house concept for a university of applied sciences, labs and offices. One of the most ambitious office projects in Europe, the building successfully reduces its energy consumption by 80 percent and sets new standards with regard to resource conservation and sustainability.

• Bauzeit: 2008
• PlanerIn: POS architekten
• Client: WWFF
• Building type: Mixed use
• Reachability: S1/S2/S7/S9/S15 train, stop: Siemensstraße, bus 31A, stop: Giefinggasse
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

This multifunctional building with a hotel and top-floor restaurant was erected on the site formerly occupied by the UNIQA company headquarters and sets a clear signal in Vienna’s Danube Canal area. With its remarkable volume, the striking glass cube blends both prominently and fittingly with the overall cityscape and the historic buildings across the Canal.

• Bauzeit: 2007-2010
• PlanerIn: Jean Nouvel, HNP architects
• Client: UNIQA
• Building type: Hotel and restaurants
• Reachability: U1/U4 Schwedenplatz
• Accessibility: The shopping arcade is publicly accessible
• Foto: Rupert Christanell