Behf

BEHF Architects has transformed the interior of a historical bel étage apartment from the Gründerzeit era located in the heart of the historic centre of Vienna, only a few minutes walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral.   The architects have created a home with a series of spacious spaces and carefully completed and restored unique parts of the original design such as floors, ceilings and doors. The apartment that boasts a mix of contemporary and historical features consists of bright, high-ceilinged rooms with parquet floorings which add detail and texture to the space. The walls of the entire apartment are painted white and feature the original stuccos which are preserved.    Behind the doors, every room ha... More

In the centre of Austria’s capital, BEHF Architects has implemented an extraordinary biotope of nature and art. At the same time, the architects have improved the microclimate and the quality of living in apartments that face the courtyards. An extensive green roof of the ARTSPACE and the use of vertical greening for firewalls reduce the temperature by up to 4 degrees.   An age-old alliance between art and the inherent beauty that exists in nature, as well as the need to use nature and its resources in an urban context, has been a source of inspiration for BEHF Architects when designing the ARTSPACE.   The centre of the concept is an arts depot nestled smoothly into a lush greenery on top of a residential building that f... More

The area around the former Nordbahnhof (Vienna North Railway Station) in the second district is currently one of the largest development areas in Vienna. BEHF Architects has been commissioned to develop four high-quality residential buildings planned for Vorgartenstrasse street as part of the Urban Development Plan "Freie Mitte - Vielseitiger Rand", created by StudioVlaySteeruwitz. A central feature of the masterplan is the development and conservation of attractive green areas and open spaces in-between the buildings, alongside the railway line of the former Nordbahnhof train station. The newly completed residential towers conclude the neighbourhood on Vorgartenstrasse street and intergrate it with the proposed urban wilderness park. &nbs... More

BEHF Architects has teamed up with JSWD Architekten to deliver Vienna's landmark towers THE ICON VIENNA, directly adjacent to Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof).   The complex comprises three high-rise office towers joined by a common plinth. The three buildings appear individual but compliment one another and communicate with the neighbouring facilities. The project plays a trailblazing role in the urban fabric and impresses with clarity and accuracy in the orientation of the three high-rise buildings as well as with the articulation of the facades. With its soft shapes, the trio enables an easy flow of visitors between the towers and through the district. Rather than functioning as an individual structure, THE ICON VIENNA opens... More

Seven renowned architectural firms have designed ten individual buildings according to architectural guiding principles by BEHF Architects. Thanks to the well though-out concept, THE ENSEMBLE presents itself as a lively, varied and modern residential area; privately financed, but based on the qualities of the Vienna housing model. Directly on the Danube Canal, opposite the recreational and leisure area of the Prater, about 800 high-quality apartments that blend seamlessly with an expansive surrounding park space are available.    The project offers a rich mixture of townhouses, family residences, apartments with gardens, temporary apartments, alternative forms of housing, as well as shops for the daily needs. The main urban deve... More

The listed Koller + Koller am Waagplatz restaurant is one of the city's most historic buildings and restaurants, while also representing an important social and cultural facility for the city of Salzburg. After undergoing a significant six-month-renovation, Koller + Koller am Waagplatz opens its doors with a brand new look.   BEHF Architects has envisioned a design strategy which brings in the 21st-century to the interior’s aesthetic, giving it a refreshing and contemporary update, and at the same time highlights the historic characteristics of the city’s iconic building from the 12th century. As part of the redesign, an entrance, dining areas and sanitary facilities located on the ground floor have been renovated. An unu... More

Architektur Galerie Berlin (Berlin, Germany, 2019)  As in many European cities, Vienna faces the challenge of striking a careful balance between history and modernity. On the one hand, the historic city centre and its famous architectural ensembles and edifices is synonymous with home for the city’s inhabitants and draws more than fifteen million tourists from across the world every year. On the other hand, Vienna continues to grow in the same manner as many other cities worldwide, where local traditions barely play a role and are predominantly replaced by interchangeable architectural projects. This field of unresolved tension is the starting point for BEHF’s search for architectural expression, in which new and existing mel... More

(2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy)  The exhibition documented current developments and thoughts in architecture, highlighting fundamental questions by discussing the philosophical concepts Time, Space and Existence. BEHF Architects participated with two projects: TELEGRAF 7 Office JP Immobilien and LLOONBASE 36 Headquarters. The exhibition installation took visitors on a historical journey through architectural models, concepts, photographs and movies. It traced the factor “time” in the two listed buildings and showcased their spatial development. Simultaneously, this immersive exhibition explored the aspects of our human existence and explained the dynamic changes of human life over time within... More

Vienna’s boutique design hotel DAS TRIEST, a popular accommodation choice among international artists and celebrities, has expended its offerings with the acquisition of the neighbouring property on the Margaretenstrasse which has now been renovated. BEHF Architects has been commissioned for the interior design of the bar and restaurant area.     Located in the heart of Vienna’s hip Freihaus district for more than hundred years, Das Triest combines elements of the original suburban architecture with the charm of the Biedermeier. The intersection Rilkeplatz is the junction of Margaretenstrasse and Wiedner Hauptstrasse. Coming from Freihaus district, characterised by an open culture and a bustling restaurant scene, one... More

Built in the 1970s, the shopping mall WEZ – Das weststeirische Einkaufszentrum in Bärnbach near Graz is an example of the first generation of malls in Austria. Over the course of the years, the property has become dilapidated and has not been particularly inviting. Demolition has been a serious option. Nevertheless, the owners have decided to renovate it and thanks to BEHF Architects, the shopping mall WEZ has been upgraded into a modern-age facility designed to suit contemporary retail trends.   WEZ comes with a novel look and an improved functional organisation. The room layout has been rearranged in such a way that it ensures the optimal use of space and an extended rentable area. The dominant feature in the interior is... More

The project LAENDYARD, Erdberger Lände 26 operates as an urban hinge to connect the city with the water. Due to the definition of the Danube Canal as the target area in the Urban Development Plan 2005 and the identification of the right and left banks of the Danube as attractive spaces for leisure and residential uses, a new look of the quarter LAENDYARD at Erdberger Lände has been created.  Situated on the banks of the Danube Canal, opposite the recreational and leisure area of the Prater, and directly adjacent to the city center, the project represents a historic opportunity for the district to create a stronger link between the city and the Danube Canal. At the same time, it develops a unique and lively neighbourhood, and a new urba... More

In the heart of the historic centre of Vienna, only a few minutes walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, BEHF Architects and MITTERMAIR Architekten have converted the former office premises of Erste Bank situated above the legendary Café Korb into 69 inviting apartments on about 12,000 square metres. In order to comply with the city’s low-cost housing policy and ensure the affordability of housing, the architects have developed compact units, a large portion of which are smaller than 50 square metres in size. This historic complex overlooks the city of Vienna, and through the apartments’ large glass windows provides breathtaking views of well-known neighbouring sites such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral or the Zacherlh... More

The “Centar Kaptol” was opened at the end of 1990s in Kaptol, the historic center of Zagreb. The center, originally an old hat factory with two additional extensions, was relatively well positioned in the 1990s. However, the mistakes in architectural solutions resulted in a decline in visitor frequency. At the beginning of 2018, Austrian property specialist Supernova acquired Centar Kaptol. BEHF Architects has been commissioned to modernise the existing property in the high-quality urban district of Zagreb and convert it into an inviting place.  The design strategy is to develop a new spatial structure and create a novel look for the forecourts of the center. Due to somewhat unconventional layout of the rooms and pathway on the ground... More