BWM Designers & Architects

Paying tribute to the original …

On behalf of JP Immobilien, BWM Designers & Architects are responsible for redesigning architect Carl Appel's building on Rudolf-Sallinger-Platz as The Hoxton Vienna hotel.
Built in the 1950s by architect Carl Appel, the building on Rudolf-Sallinger-Platz was, for decades, the headquarters of the Austrian Economic Chambers and is now a listed building. This austere postwar building is prominently located on a small hill near two of Vienna's parks: Stadtpark and Modenapark. BWM Designers & Architects are responsible for the architectural redesign of the listed building for JP Immobilien. AIME Studios are in charge of the interior, drawing inspiration from both Carl Appel's mid-century aesthetic and the Wiener Werkstätte.

Behind the impressive façade are 196 guest rooms, a two-storey lobby with original terrazzo flooring and columns sheet-clad in fluted anodised aluminium, the Paris and New York inspired Bouvier bistro, a basement speakeasy called Salon Paradise, and a rooftop bar and pool with a view of the neighbouring Stadtpark and St. Stephen's Cathedral. A meeting and event room called the Apartment combines classic coffeehouse culture with the atmosphere of a traditional Austrian restaurant. The auditorium (including a balcony) offers 300 sqm of space and, thanks to its own permanent DJ/sound and light booth, is equipped to host events ranging from comedy performances to acoustic sessions.

Preserving postwar architecture
BWM's declared aim was to treat the existing building with utmost care to preserve its original characteristics, always coordinating closely with the Federal Monuments Authority.

“Our motto has always been to expand the city, meaning to understand the buildings and things that are already there rather than ignore them,” says Markus Kaplan of BWM Designers & Architects. “We’re pleased that this project has brought the starkness and austerity of postwar architecture to contemporary building culture. We’ve restored the façade to its former glory and given the top floor back its original clarity by removing additions from the 1980s.”

Stylistically, The Hoxton Vienna takes its cue from 1950s architecture, with a multi-layered aesthetic that mixes mid-century Austrian design with rich textures, geometric shapes, and bold and playful tiles.

Committed to the original
The main façade, which was originally partly made of natural stone, was recreated using Cipollino marble. The division of the panels was also maintained to match the original, and the sculptural elements (projections and recesses) were restored. The portico and the entrance portals have been preserved in their original state.
The planning grid for the former office space was converted into a hotel planning grid. The event hall already existed as such in the original building. Hovering above the roof of the auditorium is a new, lightweight single-storey structure with an additional six rooms.
The plaza in front of the building was redesigned, with large planters and a terrace inviting both hotel guests and locals to enter and linger and reinforcing the open character. A separate entrance leads directly from the plaza to the speakeasy in the basement.