A new landmark and urban catalyst within the historic industrial complex
The QUADRILL project is bringing about a fundamental transformation of the Tabakfabrik Linz, an industrial building in the New Objectivity style designed by Peter Behrens and Alexander Popp in 1935. Following the City of Linz’s acquisition of the 38,000 m² site in 2010, the location has evolved into a hub for the creative industries. The complex, designed by Zechner & Zechner, complements the listed existing structures and transforms the formerly introverted factory site into an open, mixed-use urban block.
In terms of urban planning, QUADRILL functions as a new front building and interface with the city. Along Gruberstraße, a spacious entrance marks the access point and opens up the site. The building volumes match the height of the existing structures and rise to form the 109-meter-high Quadrill Tower, which, as a vertical counterpart to the Behrens Wing, creates a new landmark in the urban fabric.
The central design motif is a cohesive system of open spaces on two levels: Behrensplatz at street level and the “Behrensband” on the first floor. This rooftop landscape serves not only as a circulation route but also as a high-quality public space that connects the four buildings and offers a variety of opportunities for gathering and use. Stairs and grandstand-like elements interconnect the levels, creating fluid transitions between the existing structures and the new development.
The district combines approximately 1,000 jobs, about 180 apartments, as well as hotel, restaurant, retail, and leisure facilities. The mix of uses follows a hybrid concept that does not separate functions but rather interweaves them vertically and horizontally. In addition to a 189-room hotel, the Quadrill Tower houses flexible office spaces and a publicly accessible restaurant with panoramic views. Generous ceiling heights on the lower floors and the division into individual building structures ensure long-term adaptability.
New typologies are also being tested in residential design: compact units respond to the immediate proximity to workplaces and promote short distances. In this way, QUADRILL presents an alternative to functionally segregated urban structures and strengthens the integration of living and working.
Architecturally, the new buildings enter into a dialogic relationship with the existing structures. With its clinker brick façade, the base echoes the materiality of the historic buildings and creates a unifying level. The tower, on the other hand, develops its own distinct façade design: sculpturally formed elements in the lower section converge upward into a calmer, smoother appearance.
The roof surfaces are designed as intensively usable open spaces and extend the urban space vertically. In addition to green recreational areas, they offer play, sports, and work zones. Public access to the top level of the tower completes this spatial offering.
The energy supply relies primarily on groundwater via heat pumps, supplemented by photovoltaics. District heating and cooling are used to cover peak loads. Certifications under ÖGNI and klimaaktiv underscore the commitment to sustainability, which integrates ecological, economic, and sociocultural aspects.
With QUADRILL, the Tabakfabrik Linz is finally transformed into an open urban quarter. The project combines historic substance with contemporary architecture and creates a place that fosters a sense of identity within the urban fabric.
