Asset One – Real Estate Development Corporation, with headquarters in Graz, is planning the construction of an architectural, urbanistic showcase on the premises of the former Sternbrauerei. Since May 2005, Asset One is the 100% proprietor of the two hectare large property alongside the Rainberg, a striking landmark in the city of Salzburg. The plan is to turn this part of Salzburg into a lively, urban quarter providing an attractive and diverse mix of luxury apartments, middle class apartments, studios and a Center for Architecture. An international architecture competition has been organised for the implementation of the project. A group of eighteen international, reputable architects has been invited to participate in the competition. The tender was made in February 2006, followed by a six months long planning phase. During an intense two day meeting on August 8th and 9th 2006, the jury selected the winning project: Hariri & Hariri.

From the winning architects:

Rocks of Rainberg

‘Inspired by the defining natural elements of the City of Salzburg, this proposal takes form. The masterplan of this development abstractly mimics the city and becomes the Microcosm of the City of Salzburg itself, with the defining mountains and Salzach River flowing through.

Conceptually this project simulates the rock formation, deposits and random composition of a quarry site where pieces of rocks are chiseled from the mountain and then cut to smaller pieces stacked up in a random fashion. With this approach the mountain becomes a ‘generator’ rather than a ‘backdrop’.

To create a dialogue and a personal, meditative experience we have cut a narrow creek at the edge of the rock wall, which guides and invites the public through the site. Just like the Salzach River, it creates a new boundary, provides movement and extends the nature into the site.’

Some information about the competition from the organisators:

The Project

Bringing an Abandoned Site To life

Decades after the Salzburg Stern Brewery was closed, this unique site near the Old City is being revived.

In the second half of the 19th century, a branch of the city brewery ‘Sternbräu’ (Stern brewery) was built in the shade of Rainberg hill. Owners of the property came and went, the company saw several company take-overs, however, none of the owners undertook development of the property. It was not until 2005, when the site was taken over by Asset One AG Graz, that the idea of developing the property really gained momentum.

An urban model project is created, consisting of an attractive mixture of various different flats, a restaurant as well as office and exhibition areas. An international architectural competition was tendered for the implementation of the project, and was won by Hariri & Hariri architects.

kleboth lindinger partners will handle the construction and architectural planning on site.

The Competition

‘This is the most professional tender for an architectural competition I have ever seen,’ says a U.S. star architect. ‘It is an honor for us to participate,’ adds a well-known Japanese colleague.

In August 2006, Salzburg not just assumed its usual role as the center of classical music, but also became a center for modern architecture. In cooperation with the City of Salzburg, Asset One AG has made the site of the former Stern Brewery at Rainberg the subject of an international architectural competition with 18 international participants, including world-class architecture firms from Austria, the USA, the United Kingdom, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Japan.

The Vision

World-Class Architecture in Salzburg

‘The Salzburg Festival is a world-class event, the Old City of Salzburg is one of the most beautiful historical monuments in the world – if we are going to build something new in such surroundings, we have to match this level”, says Ernst Scholdan, Chairman of the Board of Asset One AG, defining the criteria for the new apartment building at Rainberg. ‘We will only be able to arouse the enthusiasm of the people in Salzburg for modern architecture if we offer the same quality of modern architecture as can be admired in the best examples of historical architecture in Salzburg.’

Documents and criteria for the architectural competition have been compiled in close cooperation with the Salzburg City Planning Council, the Old City Commission, and the Salzburg Design Advisory Board with the support of Kleboth & Lindinger Architects. These preparations entailed many painstaking details including visits to the offices of all international architects – from New York and Tokyo, from Oslo to Lisbon – who have been invited to participate, in the understanding that perfect output requires equally perfect input.

‘We have been able to attract both the interest and the enthusiasm of architects who normally work on projects which are ten, or even a hundred times larger than ours. In addition to the thorough preparation work, one aspect which has been particularly helpful is the opportunity to establish a building on the very last vacant space in the centre of Salzburg, which also appeals to world class architects’, says project manager Christoph Gadermayr.

For further information visit: www.salzburg.asset-one.at.