German Embassy Vienna
Vienna, 2015 - 2016
Office/administration buildings Competition
In November 2015, the Federal Republic of Germany launched a design competition with 25 participants for the construction of the new German Embassy in Vienna. Despite all the necessary security precautions, the design by schneider+schumacher is based on the concept of an open house. The detached, compact, 2- to 4-storey embassy building with three inner courtyards is designed as a clear solitaire, which, with its height graded according to function, fits in perfectly with the heterogeneous urban environment.
The appearance and depth of the façade is achieved through its materialisation using 10 cm deep, regularly curved stainless steel strips, which are given a robust and golden surface by means of anodisation. Connected to each other in a net-like pattern, this structure allows different views in and out depending on the angle and movement, and offers an attractive appearance both day and night.
The representative foyer forms the “heart” of the building and wraps itself around a transparent, accessible inner courtyard as a spacious, two-storey gallery. From there, you can access the divisible event hall with stage and the representative part of the residence with its main and secondary reception rooms, dining room, music room and library on the same level. To the left of the main entrance, the secure chancellery area on Metternichgasse is easily accessible from the foyer and is barrier-free.
The passport and visa office is located on the ground floor, whose deep rooms are additionally illuminated by a central courtyard. The Legal and Consular Affairs Department occupies parts of the first floor in addition to administration and IT. The OSCE Mission and its two departments are located on the second floor and share the meeting rooms in the courtyard with the embassy and its three departments on the third floor above.
As a timeless architectural landmark, the embassy building makes a special contribution to bilateral relations with Austria as an institution and meeting place.
Offices involved:
Technical details:
Client: Federal Republic of GermanyProject architect: Till Schneider, Eckehart Loidolt
Team: Johannes Bretschneider, Aleksandra Firulovic, Michael Gangelmayer,Nikola Zikic
Gross floor area: 7.097 m²
Brutto Rauminhalt: 22.158 m³
Grounds: LOMA architecture, landscape, urbanism
Building Services: KWI Engineers, St. Pölten
Tragwerksplanung: Bollinger Grohmann Schnieer ZT GmbH, Wien
