Not so long ago hotel Topazz, a new spatial structure that reflects feelings and the atmosphere of its surroundings, enriched the city of Vienna, the capital of Austria. This sculptural form is a combination of bold ideas of BWM Architekten und Partner and interior designer Michael Manzenreiter.

Situated in the very center of the city, the design hotel Topazz is far from something ordinary. This urban corner situated in HoherMarkt, Vienna’s oldest plaza, is presented to its public in a completely new form. By discarding the limitations of creation, this space presents a completely new architectural vision that instantly attracts and overpowers.

The façade, mosaic made of tiny specs, becomes a scene of borrowed impressions by reflecting the mood of the city while shaping the reactions of the observers. By displaying the near surroundings, this glamour form becomes a stage of life passing by. The façade, being a witness of a constant movement, seems alive while melting into the flow of the city.

The fluid surface of the façade is intercepted by oval windows shaped in a form of massive frames that capture a moment in which interior and exterior complement each other. During the day, these windows take a bit of the outside atmosphere and lend the sensation to the guests inside, while at night they become a scene of the inside silhouettes passing by. Glowing with amber light, they seem like sparkling gems. This resemblance is just what named the hotel Topazz (topaz is an elegant gem of wide color spectrum).

Carefully positioned, windows appear to be complementing the vertical dynamic of nearby roof tops. Observed from the inside, these oval structures become a spatial escape meant to slow down and relax. The natural curve of these window sill divans, shaped by the contour of the body, make you feel embraced within this spectacular form.

The specific gallery-like geometry of interior space enables interweaving of different activity. The floating geometry of the foyer, pierced by vertical voids, is a creative combination of style and vision enriched by luminous details and harmonic earthly color scheme.Shaped like an interior terrace, this foyer covers the restaurant on the floor below. These vertical pockets of air exchange the sounds and impressions of two areas of different activities. The very harmony of interior scene is highlighted by this embrace.

Specific by its visual appearance, hotel Topazz is more than just an impressive sight. Being packed on the city’s smallest building siteof only 153 square meters, building is also designed with the environment in mind. This structure of contemporary design approach, besides the combination of elegance, style and comfort, also fulfills the energy efficiency standards by achieving a CO2 savings of nearly 50%. But its green initiative is not only displayed within its form and used materials, but in a wide range of organic delicacies as a synonym of a quality life.

Text and photos: Milena Vučković