The real estate object in a distinctive location at the lower end of Mariahilfer Straße and directly adjoining the Museum Quarter was acquired by SIGNA with the goal of subjecting the building to extensive modernisation measures and developing it into a mixed-use commercial building. This ties it to the original history of the site as a traditional department store in a modern way. After the completion of the building’s remodelling measures, it will largely be operated by the KaDeWe Group, which has many years of expertise in the retail sector. The other units will be rented out to other retailers as well as a hotel.
The existing building consists of three parts built in different years with a total usable floor space of about 58,000 m2 as well as an underground parking garage with 327 parking spaces.The planning includes a mix of tenants with premium goods, products for day-to-day needs and local fashion labels. On the rooftop, visitors will have access to upscale gastronomy and a publicly accessible roof park with a view of the city. This area spanning around 1,000 m2 is planned as a non-consumption-oriented public access area and will be accessible outside of the stores’ and restaurants’ opening hours. The project also includes a hotel with 150 to 165 rooms.
Architecture competition
The prestigious international architectural firm O.M.A. – Office for Metropolitan Architecture, founded by Pritzker Prize winner Rem Koolhaas, was selected as the winner of the architecture competition for the KaDeWe project in Vienna. A specialist jury consisting of experts from the areas of architecture, retail and project development as well as representatives of the city of Vienna and the 7th district has unanimously selected the project by the Dutch architectural firm as the winner.
HIstory of the DEPARTMENT STORE in the MARIAHILFER STRASSE
The corner building at Mariahilfer Straße 10-18 currently occupied by the Leiner furniture store can look back on a long and eventful history. It attained fame at the end of the 19th century as one of Europe’s largest and most magnificent department stores and, together with legendary stores like Gerngross and Herzmansky, as one of the most important co-founders of the shopping culture on Mariahilfer Straße.
©Familie Esders
