Apartment Renovation in Vienna

In a residential building constructed around 1907 in Vienna’s 9th district, designed by Richard Esriel, an apartment underwent a careful, meticulously executed renovation. The goal was not only to preserve the qualities of the late Gründerzeit period but also to build upon them through contemporary interventions.

The entrance hall itself serves as a spatial pivot: a custom-built cabinet integrates a courtyard-facing skylight window complete with a seating niche, lending the foyer a welcoming atmosphere. Opposite, the bathroom and toilet are discreetly accessed through a reinterpretation of a classic panel door. This creates a subtle interplay between visibility and privacy.

The intricately complex geometry of the courtyard cabinet served as the inspiration to deliberately extend the entryway and relocate the private rooms to the tranquil courtyard area. From here, a double pivot door opens onto the study, which can be read as a contemporary counterpart to the historic wooden doors. Turmeric-colored, room-framing fabrics create a warm and focused atmosphere here. In the adjacent bedroom, Josef Frank’s “Teheran” curtain fabric enters into a subtle dialogue with the chestnut tree in the courtyard, connecting interior and exterior through the medium of textiles.
The dining area and kitchen are located in the room facing the street. A swiveling kitchen unit expands the counter space when needed and lends the room an unexpected sense of dynamism. The room facing the balcony bay has been designated as the living room; the double-door connection to the kitchen and a newly added fireplace enhance the sense of spaciousness and coziness.

Base concrete on the walls and floors creates a consistent materiality that lays over the bathrooms like a calm, tactile foundation. The shower is separated by two glass panels, thus maintaining a sense of openness and spaciousness despite its compact dimensions.

In the storage room, originally the small balcony, the bricks from the demolition were reused for the floor on the balcony slab, and the walls were closed off with salvaged corrugated panels. The room now serves as a storage space: in winter as an extended refrigerator and year-round as a wine cellar.

The renovation is conceived as a subtle and precise intervention that respects the existing structure while simultaneously establishing new spatial relationships. Beyond mere restoration, an atmosphere has emerged that is immediately apparent. A living space that invites you to walk barefoot. The sequence of rooms feels clear and natural; the restoration work was carried out with great care and attention to detail. From the preserved stained-glass windows to the hardware found at flea markets, the project testifies to a consistent love for Details.