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Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Austria Architecture News - Dec 03, 2019 - 16:24   11394 views

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Ljubljana-based architecture practice Bevk Perović arhitekti has completed a new gallery, cultural centre and exhibition venue in the heart of Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Named New Gallery, the fortress-like project was developed as a result of a competition held in 2016. The competition brief asked to the architects to transform an ammunition storage structure of the medieval fortress into a new cultural venue which is accessible for the public. 

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Encompassing a total of 290-square-metre area, the structure maintains its historical layers inside with white stone walls that contain some archway passages. This was the core of the project brief, according to the architects.

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

"The project deals with the issue of reconstruction and integration of historical layers into the life of the city - the historical complex, hidden for a long time, can be experienced and understood in its entirety, while accepting new programmatic definition," said Bevk Perović arhitekti. 

"The area in front of the casemates is conceived as a gently sloping public square that connects the level of the city to the semi-submerged level of the old structure, receiving visitors with a horizontally glazed ground floor." 

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Visitors are welcomed through the maze-like - almost "piranesian" structure of the old casemates, that has been transformed into an exhibition venue for the city.

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

The architects added a new multipurpose hall - a kind of Kunsthalle space, lit from above, appears at the end of the subterranean promenade, it provides a natural, contemporary conclusion of the complex.

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

A gentle slope connects the space of the casemates back to the level of the Stadtpark, thus finishing the topographical outline of the complex - from the city, through subterranean historical layers of the fortress - back to the surface of the city and the green park.

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

"The discipline of intervention is stressed though the material definition of additions - the brick world of the historical structure is complemented and revealed through the cast concrete materiality of new additions - making the new and old visibly differ, yet appear united," added the architects.

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Ground floor plan

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

Diagrams

Bevk Perović arhitekti built fortress-like gallery by maintaining historical layers inside in Austria

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All images © David Schreyer

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