HOCHHAUS HERRENGASSE — REVITALISATION
Design Development Phase · BEHF Architects · Vienna, Austria · 2026
The ongoing revitalisation of Vienna’s first high-rise residential building, designed by Siegfried Theiß and Hans Jaksch and completed in 1932, combines the restoration of existing elements with new architectural interventions. The project includes a redesigned foyer with an illuminated ceiling, an updated lighting concept throughout the building, addition of balconies and French balconies facing the inner courtyard, and a canopy that creates an elevated communal garden and relaxation areas above the parking level. The existing roof levels are being transformed into a sequence of multi-level rooftop gardens.
*Built in 1932, the Hochhaus Herrengasse was Vienna’s first high-rise residential building, standing approximately 52–53 metres tall with 16 floors, and marking a turning point in the development of modern residential architecture in the city. The construction of a high-rise in the historic centre sparked considerable public debate and controversy around urban planning. The project raised the question of how to introduce a new high-rise typology into an urban fabric dominated by historic palaces and relatively uniform building heights. The tower’s upper floors are set back in a stepped formation, making the building appear less like a high-rise from many street-level perspectives. Today, the building is protected under Austria’s monument protection legislation, recognising its architectural and historical significance.