ORF Funkhaus: This is how the monument in Vienna is being redesigned

The oldest component of the radio station on Argentinierstrasse “is under the strictest monument protection” and is therefore one rote Zone. “This means: don’t touch the monument protection,” explains the architect; no changes are allowed.

The radio house was in the 1930s according to the architects’ plansn Heinrich Schmied, Hermann Aichinger and in collaboration with Clemens Holzmeister constructed. In the 1970s it was expanded. In 2016, the majority of the ensemble was taken over by the Rhomberg Construction Group acquired, the “Peichl tract“ and the adjacent broadcasting rooms remain the property of ORF.

A hotel and apartments are being built

On the street side, around 80 percent of the original Schmid-Eichinger-Holzmeister components will in future be used as Hotel be used, 20 percent for apartments. The ones on the street side Offices According to the architect, their cellular structure could be ideally converted into hotel rooms due to their size. The former Management room on the third floor, the only wood-panelled room, is intended for use Suite become. On the fourth floor with the embrasure windows, the recessed ceiling will be removed, and a terrace and possibly a spa with a pool will be created on the roof above.

At the back of the radio station, the former one is being built parking with old trees the new building in Rhomberg 35 apartments. “Here comes ours Wood hybrid building there. The middle row of trees has to go, the two outer rows remain,” says the Rhomberg sales manager Start of construction should take place shortly. According to the agent, there are ten apartments available Elisabeth Rohr already reservations. The Purchase prices start at 10,000 euros/m².

The plan is to open the front of the building towards the Theresianum on the ground floor. “The additions that were built here are not of the construction period, but were largely built by ORF themselves,” says Gerhard Girsch. There should be another one here Terrace for catering arise. In addition, the zoning from Argentinierstrasse requires a public passage, which Rhomberg will implement. The forecourt in front of the radio station will be converted into a public square.

When will the conversion into a hotel start? Only when there is a suitable one operator was found. “We want someone who fits the concept, not 0815,” says Luca Vogelsingersales manager of Rhomberg in Vienna. Until then there is one Interim use with a focus on music, there is a bar in the former Tape archive developed.

Die Lobby of the radio station with the large staircase over three floors should also be retained for the hotel. According to the architect, there will be built-ins like one reception and probably one too Lift for the hotel, that has been clarified with the monument conservationists. Whether the future operator also has synergies with the The messenger seal in the building in the sense of a “Culture Mall” is still open.

The extension in the rear part of the radio station from the 1970s will be converted into living space, 23 Apartments arise. This is the area “where we largely have a free hand,” says Luca Vogelsinger. “We can also change the facade here; curtain walls are planned On the balcony.” The idea is to leave the existing structure intact, but to place a balcony scaffolding in front of it as a keystone for the facade. “The big benefit is that it is unobstructable Grünblick over 300 meters in the middle of the fourth district,” said Vogelsinger about the green spaces Theresianums.