Plans for "Lamarr" Shell Construction on Vienna's Mariahilfer Straße Finalized
The front part of the "Lamarr" shell on Vienna's Mariahilfer Straße will be partially demolished to create retail spaces on the lower three floors and apartments from the 2nd to the 8th floor. The hotel in the rear area and the publicly accessible rooftop terrace remain part of the usage concept, according to the owner.
Plan Change for "Lamarr" Shell Not Yet Submitted to City of Vienna
So far, no application for a change of plan for the "Lamarr" building has been received at Vienna City Hall, a spokesperson for Housing Councillor Kathrin Gaal (SPÖ) told APA upon request. It is expected that a building application will be submitted in July. However, demolition work can begin before that, as no separate permit is required, the spokesperson explained. According to the owner, demolition is to begin in July 2025, and in 2026, the shell in the front part of the area is to be constructed according to the new concept, with minor adjustments to the hotel section. From autumn 2026, the interior of the building will be expanded, followed by the implementation of the outdoor facilities and the pedestrian zone in Karl-Schweighofer-Gasse. The owner expects the project to be completed by the end of 2027 or early 2028.
"Lamarr" Shell: Public Park on the Roof to be Implemented
Approximately 12,000 square meters of retail space are to be created in the basement, ground floor, and first floor, with 200 apartments with open spaces to be built above on 15,500 square meters. There will be a public park on the roof covering 1,000 square meters. A 4-star superior hotel with 220 rooms is to be located in the rear part of the building. The approved building shell is to remain, but the overall volume is to be "massively" reduced, and instead, spacious courtyards are to be created, according to the announcement.
The retail spaces on the lower floors are necessary because the property is located in a commercial zone. The publicly accessible, greened rooftop terrace cannot essentially be altered either. A right of use (servitude) was agreed upon there, which was a major concern for the district. The shell construction is located in the 7th district of Vienna, Neubau, and Mariahilfer Straße is one of the city's most important shopping streets. "With the renovation and new construction, we are setting an accent for an attractive mix of uses on Mariahilfer Straße, which is appealing to residents, guests, and businesses alike," said Stefan Zöser, Managing Director of Stumpf Development GmbH, according to the release.
Greens Criticize "Lamarr" Demolition
Neubau district leader Markus Reiter (Greens) welcomed the continuation of the project in a release. "At the same time, we want to clearly express that we have high expectations of the Stumpf Group," said Reiter. The retail spaces should "bring real added value" and serve as a stimulus for customer frequency. The publicly accessible rooftop park is a significant gain for Vienna.
For the Vienna Greens, the demolition reveals urgently needed refinements in the Vienna Building Code. They see it as a "symbol of misguided building policy." "After the demolition of the Leiner building, a prestige project was supposed to emerge, which is now being demolished again - an absurd waste of resources," criticized Peter Kraus, head of the Vienna Greens, in the release. The party is calling for an amendment to the building code with mandatory concepts for deconstruction and reuse, as well as a general approval requirement for demolitions.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.