Approaching the building from Mirabellplatz
Refurbishment of the Mozarteum Performing Arts School
With Arup, Froehlich& Locher ZI Ges
The existing building consists of a linear listed building an overly dense addition from the 1970's with very limited daylight and confusing distribution. By moving the non -music related programme to other locations within the city, the school enabled scope for more generous spaces.
We extended the rudimentary public pathways through the site into a public artificial landscape on the ground floor, its three dimensionally pleated surface connects the different surrounding urban situations in plan and section. The central section is formed relatively smooth to take and guide the path through/ underneath the building. From that central tangential section the topographical pleats start to rise up longitudinally and to form deep creases at either end, offering secluded pockets for resting and concentration. One of the valleys provides the access to the auditorium beneath the surface, while another crease is leading up to the level of the Mirabellplatz.
Additional weaving of bamboo bands that relate to the eye level of the users provides specific vistas, different densities of openess and closeness as well as a stage like layering that has to be disected when moving through the site. These feather out into the neighbouring Mirabellplatz and invite passer-by to use the site as a new route down to the baroque garden at the other side.
