Refurbishment Philips-Haus – an icon of 1960s modernism – forms a welcoming gesture on the southern entrance to the city of Vienna. Although dwarfed by nearby Wienerberg City, it continues to make an impact more than fifty years after its completion. Its shape and anatomy remain distinctively unique, leaving behind an architectural afterglow in the eyes of the thousands of motorists that drive by every day. Philips Haus still conveys the visionary spirit of its designer, renowned Viennese architect Karl Schwanzer.
© Leo Fellinger
Originally conceived as the Austrian headquarters of Philips, it was opened in April 1965, after 4 years of construction starting in late 1961. Philips Haus showcases a particularly unique construction. It rests on 4 slender reinforced concrete pylons, prominently visible on its facades. Between those – and cantilevering beyond them considerably – span more than 70 meters long prestressed concrete beams. Two per floor spaced 14m deep, connected by a minimized secondary floor and beam construction. As a result, the individual floors seem to rest between the primary pylons like a stack of shelves inserted through a pair of ladders. The center span of the longitudinal beams measures 39 meters, with its cantilevers 16 meters on each side. A 76-meter-long, three-story podium, sits off-center underneath the high-rise slab. Both volumes are interconnected through a shared vertical circulation core.
© Leo Fellinger
Approximately 50m in height, the building is a masterpiece of structural engineering. Responsible for its structure was legendary Austrian engineer Robert Krapfenbauer in cooperation with the Munich fi rm Dyckerhoff & Widmann. A column-free plan allowed for the first open-space offices in Austria in the 1960s, and today provided an ideal starting point for a sustainable refurbishment of the Philips Haus. Its open, interrupted layout facilitated a great variety of adaptations: from loft to micro-apartment, all possibilities for conversion into contemporary forms of housing could be exploited. The result might be called a ‘vertical village’, composed of serviced apartments, supermarkets, restaurants, fitness club, parking, and a future connection to the new U2 underground metro line.
© moodley brand identity, Tina Herzl & Julian Mullan
Nine standard floors of the high-rise contain 135 serviced apartments which range in size from 30 to 46 m2. As future investments they are not intended for immediate personal use but will be rented on a daily to monthly basis, fully furnished and supported by hotel-like infrastructure. Every apartment affords impressive views over the city, or southward across Lower Austria and to the Schneeberg. A truly magnificent 360° vista can be experienced from the 12th-floor penthouse.
© moodley brand identity, Tina Herzl & Julian Mullan
Revitalization of the building was carried out in close coordination with the historic preservation authorities, as since 2010 the façade, structure, and circulation cores had become registered monuments. Reconstruction of the aluminum ribbon windows received particular attention and was a subtle reinterpretation of Schwanzer’s original façade from the 1960s – which did not survive into the 21st century and had been replaced a few times.
© Leo Fellinger
A terrain modification from the 90ies could be undone, and the southern side re-established with its landmark panoramic window. Hence the podium would again – as intended by Karl Schwanzer – appear to be hovering above a slight setback ground floor. Philips Haus became PhilsPlace, and thus – not least through its name – the original concepts and spirit of the building live on.
Project Info
Architects: Josef Weichenberger Architects
Country: Austria, Vienna
Area: 15700 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs: Leo Fellinger, moodley brand identity, Tina Herzl & Julian Mullan
Manufacturers Cosentino, Sto, Acor, S&P Reinforcement, Schüco, Toto, Wicona: Cosentino
Category: Apartments, Refurbishment
Design Team: Robert Huebser, Mark Steinmetz, Raphaela Bauer, Manuel Fasch, Stefan Fussenegger, Araceli Garzia Sanchez, Clemens Gurtner, Zrinka Lovrekovic, Sandy Panek, Giacomo Rocco, Riccardo Rotelli, Stefan Schubert, Andreas Schuchnigg, Dagmar Schultes, Alice Steinmetz, Michael Strohmaier
Plot Area: 13.760 m²
Effective Area: 15.700 m²
Structural Engineer: Markus Kuhlang ZT GmbH
Building Physics: ENICON eco-energy consulting GmbH
HVAC Engineer: Mahr & Partner GmbH
Electrical Engineer: Mahr & Partner GmbH
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.