Rooftop MH1
"This penthouse's full length ribbon windows give its lucky residents a chance to survey the surrounding views of Vienna", by Architizer, 22.01.2014.
Bomb-damaged building
The building was designed and built in the “Gründerzeit” era (the latter half of the 19th century), and originally had a richly decorated facade with a tower at the north-eastern corner. After suffering heavy damage during World War II, it was given an “austerity facade” without any kind of surface decoration, structured merely by the dimensions of the window openings. Over the years, a variety of shop fronts created a mix of different facades along the ground floor, a situation commonly found in buildings on Mariahilfer Strasse. Remodelling the building has given it back a coherent appearance. The ground floor has been adapted in accordance with current standards of shop front design in modern shopping districts. The dormer of the roof areas at the junction of Mariahilfer Strasse and Getreidemarkt resulted from a consistent continuation of the geometry of the existing building. The solution resembles a tower that buckles into the roof pitch. Instead of building a corner tower, a kind of arris was formed that corresponds with the existing corner solution.
Balancing act between privacy and exchange
An office location requires areas that are permanently available, designed in a clear and open way and freely accessible to everybody, but also spaces that offer somewhere to withdraw to.
Transparent energy
Transparency and the play with glass and mirrors create expansiveness and intimacy, subtly connecting and separating the personal working areas. Curtains provide the opportunity to make the separate work areas more intimate and protected. The interior corresponds with the outer shell – horizontal, fast and yet, at the same time, cosy. Warm, natural materials and colours balance the lightness of the space and help to keep it grounded. Views, interrupted by light axes, define flexible offices for meetings or lounge conversations. The restrained nature of the fittings and furniture allow the space to develop its character.
Ceiling art by Megumi Ito
The regularly interwoven metal bands of the ceiling in the reception area symbolise water and waves. Playing with the reflections of daylight is as important as emphasising the representative character. One floor above, Ito made an illuminated ceiling. A total of 9,000 interconnected copper rings create a repetitive ceiling landscape with indirect lighting. The ring, a symbol of belonging, is intended to unite the office spaces with the people working in them. Copper has a cleansing effect in the sense of Yin and Yang; it creates balance and a kind of grounding as a contrast to the dynamic architecture. The two top floors are similar in terms of floor plan and the assignment of functions. The principal difference lies in the design of the floors in the entrance areas and corridors – light-coloured natural stone on one level, a wavy patterned carpet on the other. The “sky lounge” is positioned above the two office floors. It is fully glazed on all sides, the wind and weather can surge around it. It is equipped with a conference table, a fireplace, a more intimate area with a sofa, and a kitchen, designed especially for this space, which can be transformed into a table.
Showcased nature by Bernd Hochwartner
The roof terrace itself is “showcased nature above the roofs of the city”. The architectonic landscape consisting of wooden decks, interrupted by areas of vegetation, invites people to linger and stroll around. The wooden decks are multifunctional – they can be used to sit, lie or lean on, they serve as a noise barrier and privacy screen. The planting consists mostly of native trees, such as pine, birch, and juneberry, with carpets of vegetation beneath them. Nature leaves its trace throughout the entire building, from the entrance to the inner courtyard, from the winter garden to the offices, and up to the roof. The planted light shafts reflect the idea of an abstracted internal garden.