Revitalisation of the Mattersburg Cultural Centre: A milestone in the architectural transformation

On an area of 4,750 m², the Mattersburg Cultural Centre brings together Burgenland cultural organisations, the state archive, the state library, the literary centre, the adult education centre and a multifunctional foyer for different types of use and gastronomy. Built in 1976 according to the plans of H. U. Graf in a brutalist style, the cultural centre is an architectural testimony to the cultural efforts of the Austrian state of Burgenland under Governor Kery and Regional Cultural Councillor Mader. After more than 37 years in operation, the question arose as to whether it should be thoroughly refurbished or even demolished. A citizens’ initiative campaigned to preserve the building’s key features. This led to the invitations to tender for an architectural competition in which the substance of the building was to be preserved while at the same time creating a contemporary cultural establishment.

Architectural competition and conservation classification

In April 2016, HOLODECK architects won the Europe-wide competition. The design impressed with a spacious public area between the education centre and cultural area, the extension of the existing bottom level and the integration of a multifunctional foyer. In the same year, a reassessment of the building’s brutalist heritage was carried out by the Austrian Federal Monuments Office, which led to partial protection of the existing buildings.

Project development and implementation of the construction work

Following submission in autumn 2017 and the issuance of all of the necessary approvals by April 2018, the Regional Cultural Council started a new evaluation. During the course of this, the decision was made to expand the cultural centre—also known as KUZ for short—to include the Burgenland State Archive and the State Library. Despite economic challenges and intensive negotiations, construction work started in 2020. Individual tenders had to specifically offer SMEs in the region opportunities to participate. The revitalised Mattersburg Cultural Centre reopened in May 2022.

Architectural and functional reinterpretation

The new centre blends harmoniously into the existing development on the Wulkalände site and provides a direct connection to the newly designed Mattersburg railway station. Clear signposting and barrier-free access ensure continuous use of the building. The volumetric structure, which spans a maximum of five levels and is partially buried in the ground, ensures balanced integration into the urban environment.

As part of the refurbishment, earthquake-proof measures, concrete repairs, timber frame renovations and comprehensive glass replacement were carried out. The thermal refurbishment of the roof areas was carried out in close coordination with the Austrian Federal Monuments Office. Natural cross ventilation reduces energy consumption and contributes to sustainable building management. Supplementary cooling technologies in high-traffic areas ensure a pleasant indoor climate. The building was also designed to be completely barrier-free.

Harmonious integration of solutions from Reynaers and Forster

The perfectly coordinated profile solutions from Reynaers Aluminium and Forster Profile Systems complement each other optimally and were perfectly combined in this project. Their harmonious integration not only illustrates the finesse of the design, but also emphasises the added value of having Reynaers and Forster as a holistic partner for all requirements in metal construction.

A key element of the refurbishment of the Mattersburg KUZ is the integration of the entrance area into the building. This was made possible by the ConceptWall 50 façade solution. The curtain wall façade and roof system from Reynaers Aluminium was used in this area for both the clearly structured outer shell and the extended interior façade. The ConceptWall 50 façade solution allows for unlimited freedom of design and ensure that the interior receives plenty of natural light. As a curtain wall façade and roof system, it achieves energy efficiency up to Passive House level. The façade is complemented by MasterLine 8 aluminium windows and doors, which offer a high level of safety, heat insulation and stability. The MasterPatio aluminium sliding system in conjunction with the interior façade forms a highly insulated, high-performance system with a minimalist design that combines thermal efficiency with slim sightlines. These products make a significant contribution to the sustainability and aesthetic quality of the new cultural centre.

The durable and recyclable steel profile systems from Forster are another important element in the area of safety. In order to secure the escape routes in the event of a fire, various fire protection doorways with E30 and smoke protection are used in the steel forster presto system. Here, the requirements of the architecture in terms of flush installation were implemented in the various connection situations. As a result, the necessary safety specifications for fire protection and acoustic performance were met during the refurbishment of the Mattersburg Cultural Centre thanks to profile systems from Forster. The transparency of the entrance hall is carried over architecturally with the high proportion of glass thanks to the slim tubular frame elements.

A vibrant centre for culture and research

With the new design, the Mattersburg Cultural Centre in Burgenland combines a wide range of functions, user groups and visitor flows under one roof. The architecture promotes a sense of openness and social interaction, thus ensuring that the original ideal of an inclusive cultural site continues into the future. The Austrian Federal Chancellery regards the project as an excellent example of the careful refurbishment and further development of listed architecture from the 1970s.

The result is an architectural statement that harmonises the values of brutalism with the requirements of contemporary cultural and educational use – a successful balance between preservation and renewal.

Mattersburg, Austria

Products:

Reynaers ConceptWall 50, MasterLine 8 and MasterPatio; forster presto internal doorways

Architecture: HOLODECK architects, Friedrichstrasse 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Metal construction: Allmetall, Aluminium- und Stahlbau GmbH, Schwendnergasse 6, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Client: Landesimmobilien Burgenland GmbH, Marktstrasse 3, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria

Photography: Wolfgang Thaler