VISITOR CENTER OBERES BELVEDERE
The Visitor Center at the Upper Belvedere has been conceived as a contemporary addition to merge with the baroque context of its historic setting. This project unfolds as a continuous longitudinal underground space, distinguishing public areas through variations in ceiling heights and different solutions to natural light treatment. Within this subterranean area, pathways dedicated to the transport of artworks and the movement of staff are positioned at an intermediate level, thus separated from the visitors’ activities and conceived to blend both visually and functionally with the reception zone and the plaza above. Drawing inspiration from the historic Marmorsaal and Sala Terrena of the Upper Belvedere, the design features baroque-inspired vaults and a large central skylight. The ceiling, characterized by its morphologically varied vaults, is constructed from precast concrete sections. These sections are supported by two lines of slender, almost quivering columns, adding a sense of dynamism and lightness to the monolithic structure.
From an urban and landscape architecture perspective, the project emphasizes symmetry and axial alignments, enhancing the connection to the historic building and ensuring a coherent integration of the new center into its environment. The choice of the entry point, designed to preserve the historic facade along Prinz Eugen Straße, reflects an effort to maintain accessibility while managing visitor and operational flows in a manner that respects the site's heritage.
LOCATION
Vienna, Austria
PROGRAM
Visitor Center
YEAR
2024
CLIENT
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
STATUS
Competition
DESIGN
MAEID+MORPHtopia
Tiziano Derme, Daniela Mitterberger
Gonzalo Vaíllo
PROJECT TEAM
Lorenz Andexer
Michelle Chan
Vienna, Austria
PROGRAM
Visitor Center
YEAR
2024
CLIENT
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
STATUS
Competition
DESIGN
MAEID+MORPHtopia
Tiziano Derme, Daniela Mitterberger
Gonzalo Vaíllo
PROJECT TEAM
Lorenz Andexer
Michelle Chan