Past and Future, Glass and Steel
Lightness, brightness, elegance and transparency are some of the features of the new two-level foyer of Mozarteum, the home of the Salzburg foundation that has long sought to preserve and spread Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s historical and musical heritage. The foyer clearly seeks to change how people socialize and interact in this space, providing a good-sized area for the community and enthusiasts alike, but it also goes beyond that – symbolically and literally – connecting two moments in history, the past and the future, with their own architectural traditions. This goal of really foregrounding and adding luster to the existing historical and artistic heritage, especially the lower level, was the driving force behind Pichler projects conceiving what is truly a work of art in glass and steel that fits in superbly with the general design concept developed by the Maria Flöckner und Hermann Schnöll architecture studio, winner of the competition held for this project.
As Tanja Pichler noted, the architectural requirements, the static characteristics of the existing buildings, and the constraints posed by regulations to protect Salzburg’s cultural heritage and historic center really pushed the physics of construction to the limit in order to bring to life a transparent space punctuated by black steel partitions.
For this creation, Pichler projects had to research and develop not only suitable flooring solutions, but also the custom-made glass roofing, using a total of more than 100 tons of steel that had been given a special oil treatment. The nature of Mozarteum meant the acoustics had to be top notch, so the mirror-polished stainless steel interior surfaces were perforated and fitted with an almost invisible, esthetically imperceptible acoustic film on the back. The work involved, as mentioned, both the ground floor of the foyer – about 200 sq. m for a large entrance and wardrobe area, including a wall fountain that was part of architect Berndl’s original design – and the second floor, 170 sq. m. As this is adjacent to the Great Hall, it creates a welcoming, social space for guests and concert-goers.
The revamp also involved various other spaces being modernized. Overall, the constant dialogue between the company, the architects and Mozarteum’s managers forged a skillful blend of technique and design in which the Foundation’s dream took shape, producing one of the most avant-garde concert venues, a true symbol of its pursuit of preservation, collection and research.
PICHLER PROJECTS
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