Office Building Rathausstraße 1 by Schuberth und Schuberth + Stadler Prenn + Ostertag

Located in the heart of Vienna, the Office Building at Rathausstraße 1 is a refined architectural response to a historical urban context. Designed by Schuberth und Schuberth, in collaboration with Stadler Prenn and Ostertag, the project redefines office architecture by blending heritage-sensitive urban integration with forward-thinking sustainability and material reuse. The result is a high-performance, aesthetically grounded, and long-lasting workplace environment that respects Vienna’s architectural legacy while addressing future adaptability.

Contextual Integration & Concept

Winner of an open international architecture competition in 2013, the building responds directly to its location within the historic Rathausviertel. Despite its monolithic appearance, the project is shaped by an analytical design approach grounded in depth, materiality, and detailing. The freestanding form features a perceptual grid that responds to its Wilhelminian neighbors through scale and rhythm, echoing the urban grain without mimicking it.

The architects masterfully reinterpret historical architectural typologies, particularly the Wilhelminian style, using modern techniques. Gradual transitions between the arcade, mezzanine, main, and attic floors mirror surrounding buildings and reflect a layered reading of Vienna’s built environment.

Architecture & Spatial Organization

Internally, a generous central foyer opens to a sunlit inner courtyard via a glass roof, creating a bright and welcoming spatial core. Office wings are organized with flexible layouts, adaptable for both open-plan and cellular configurations, enhancing usability and long-term value.

A double façade system, both climate-responsive and historically referential, enhances comfort and energy performance. The outer baffle plate and inner sash windows are separated by ventilated space, emulating traditional Viennese “Kastenfenster” (box windows). These architectural gestures not only improve thermal efficiency but also create a subtle dialogue with the past.

Structural Expression & Urban Form

The building aligns with existing urban edges, respecting the city’s mono-central structure, and preserves sightlines to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a vital visual anchor in Vienna’s World Heritage cityscape. Chamfered corners and a pedestrian-friendly arcade on the ground level reinforce street-level permeability and urban continuity.

The facade design further strengthens the building’s connection to its surroundings. Horizontal bands, refined detailing, and double-layered glass cladding replace traditional cornices, allowing the structure to remain contemporary while embedded in historical discourse.

Sustainability & Material Reuse

Sustainability is a core driver of the project. Impressively, 90% of the previous building’s materials were retained and reused, setting a benchmark in circular construction. This commitment to minimizing waste not only honors the past but also underscores the building’s future-forward ethos.

All Photographs are works of Christoph Panzer