12.09.2024
The House of Austrian History in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier will be a sustainable wooden building
O&O Baukunst wins the competition to design the House of Austrian History in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier and the replacement site for the Dschungel Wien:
The high-caliber panel of experts has reached a unanimous decision in the design competition for the House of Austrian History (hdgö) in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier and for replacement spaces for Dschungel Wien. The winning project by the architectural firm O&O Baukunst envisions a sustainable new building constructed of wood for the hdgö’s new location starting in 2028, which will be connected to the existing structure. Gutting the old building will create large, contiguous exhibition spaces. The design blends naturally into the newly opened monastery courtyard.
The House of Austrian History at the MQ will have a total usable area of over 4,000 m² spread across five levels, of which approximately 3,000 m² will be dedicated to exhibitions and educational programs. With this new building, the hdgö will be able to fulfill its statutory mandate and comprehensively explore the history of the Republic beginning in 1848. The new museum at the MQ marks the first substantive expansion of the arts and culture complex since its opening in 2001.
After the federal government announced the new location of the hdgö via a Cabinet decision on November 15, 2023, the design competition began in March 2024. The competition is organized by the MuseumsQuartier Construction and Operating Company.
Competition and Jury
: The competition was conducted as an EU-wide, restricted, single-stage design competition with a preliminary application process followed by a negotiated procedure to develop a design concept for the award of general planning services. The jury selected 12 out of 29 applications received; 11 firms submitted their competition entries.
Jury Statement
: The jury, chaired by Elke Delugan-Meissl selected the project by the Berlin-based firm O&O Baukunst, led by Markus Penell, based in part on the clear distinction between the existing structure and the new building, the appealing layout and design of the outdoor space, and the sustainability concept. In recent years, the firm has completed several cultural projects, including the rehearsal stage at Berlin’s Schaubühne, the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, the Saxon State, Regional, and University Library (S.L.U.B.) Dresden, the Schiffbau – Theater and Cultural Center in Zurich, and three museum buildings in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier.
Sustainability in Existing and New
Construction: The new hdgö building will be constructed using wood from local, sustainably managed forests. The existing building will be retrofitted to meet the latest energy efficiency standards, and certification as a “Klimaaktiv” building is planned. The planting of heat-resistant trees and shrubs in the courtyard prevents the ground from heating up, and stormwater is reused.
Construction work on the House of Austrian History in the MuseumsQuartier will begin in the second half of 2026. The museum building is scheduled for completion in 2028.
“The House of History is more than just a museum. It is the place where we, as a society, reflect on where we come from and how we became the country we are today—in all its facets. Here in the MuseumsQuartier, it will have the best opportunities to fulfill this role even more effectively than before. An open space for remembrance, discussion, and reflection will emerge here—a place where people enjoy spending time and engaging with our country’s history. And with that, we will finally have a ‘real’ House of History in its own building.”
“With this new museum building, the MQ is evolving in terms of its content for the first time since its opening in 2001. I am very pleased that Markus Penell’s design offers a superb solution that transforms the historic structure into a museum building that is contemporary and sustainable in every respect. The jury’s selection of the design by O&O Baukunst, Berlin, brings things full circle, as a new generation of the firm—which is so closely tied to the history of the MQ—is now responsible for the site’s architectural development.”
“The harmony between the new and the old at the MuseumsQuartier is carried forward quite naturally. The new building is made of seasoned wood. Of course, wood is a living material, and it allows for all kinds of associations when dealing with history. A permeable layer envelops the interior and creates a sense of soft focus that allows for both openness and intimacy. This enables visitors to enter the House of Austrian History with an open mind.”
“The House of Austrian History works with and for Austrian society. As a forum for discussion, we need, above all, architectural openness, accessibility, and flexible spaces; that is why the design by O&O Baukunst, Berlin, convinced the jury. The subtle lightness of the new building unobtrusively supports the museum’s work, which addresses the burning questions of the present through history. Located at the intersection of the MuseumsQuartier, the Mariahilfer Straße shopping district, and the Platz der Menschenrechte, the Haus der Geschichte Österreich can engage a wide variety of audiences in exploring what the past means for the present.”
“The renovation of DSCHUNGEL WIEN brings the theater’s three stages together under one roof: Stage 3 and the rehearsal rooms are moving to the basement, making them easier to access and more flexible to schedule, and significantly improving working conditions for the artists overall. This strengthens DSCHUNGEL WIEN and represents a strong commitment by the federal government to promoting young people’s access to art and culture.”
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