The Wien Museum is located at the Karlsplatz, the largest square within Viennas historic city fabric. It its surrounded by remarkable historic architecture most notably the Karlskirche which dominates the eastern part of the square. The Karlsplatz has a rich but turbulent history and its potential as a valuable public space of immense quality has only been discovered in recent years.

Historically the square is a leftover of the Glacis - the open space between city walls and the suburbs. Even today we understand this intermediate condition as a public space where various pavilions house different recreational functions. In that sense we propose the addition of a new pavilion which stands freely within the square and is elevated so the park landscape remains uninterrupted.
Our concept divides the new museum complex into 3 parts: the existing building, the new floating tower and the subterranean connection level. The existing building houses the permanent exhibition as well as the museum cafe, the tower contains temporary exhibition spaces and public studios and the connection level contains the museum lobby as well as the large temporary exhibition space.

Wide staircases form a continuation of the squares topography into the lower connection level and lead visitors towards the main entrances passing the public heart of the building - the event space underneath the floating tower - which is used independently from museum opening hours and in summer is being extended to the outside becoming a stage for the amphitheatre.
Circulation through the building is flexible and can be experienced in many ways. From the lobby all parts of the exhibition as well as other public functions are directly and independently accessible. At the same time it is possible to move through the entire building in a closed loop. The most spectacular view of the Karlskirche from the rooftop bar is always open to the entire public.

In collaboration with OpenFields.