Salzgries 12: Gründerzeit meets modern office standards

Office space in a prestigious city centre location
Vienna – At Salzgries 12, in Vienna’s 1st district, modern office space lies behind the carefully restored façade of a prestigious Gründerzeit building dating from 1882. From an upper-class residential and commercial building to a hotel, the property has been repeatedly adapted to the demands of its time whilst retaining its distinctive character. During the refurbishment of the approximately 145-year-old building, Generali Real Estate (GRE), in collaboration with A2K Architects, placed particular emphasis on carefully preserving the historic fabric and developing it in a targeted manner. The property was thus adapted, both technically and functionally, to meet today’s requirements for office use. The project was completed in the summer of 2026.
The name of the location itself refers to a long history in Vienna: the name ‘Salzgries’ recalls the former sandy bank, known as the ‘Gries’, where salt ships once moored on what was then a branch of the Danube. Today, the address stands for a different kind of movement: the careful transformation of a characterful Gründerzeit building that combines Viennese architectural heritage with contemporary office use.

Historic character, timeless elegance
The premises, covering around 2,700 m², offer a wide range of possibilities for flexible office layouts. In the process, the defining architectural features have been preserved and effectively showcased anew: the richly structured façade, the box windows, the natural stone staircases with their artistically designed balustrades, and the generous ceiling heights lend the building its identity. They create the very atmosphere that makes Vienna’s architectural heritage so distinctive, whilst also providing a high-quality setting for contemporary working. Whilst the upper floors are designed as office space, the ground floor houses a retail area.

A Gründerzeit building for the working world of tomorrow
Philipp Janes, Managing Director at A2K Architekten: “What makes this project special for us is the opportunity to create a compelling dialogue between the past and the future. As architects, we see our role as continuing to write the story of a building: recognising its existing values, highlighting their quality and combining them with contemporary architecture and modern technology. Our aim was to work with all project stakeholders to sustainably enhance the building at Salzgries 12, make it fit for the future and safeguard its special qualities for decades to come.”

Long-term prospects for valuable properties
GRE project manager Martin Gschweidl: “Our key task for the future is to strategically develop existing properties whilst preserving their defining features in the long term. At Salzgries 12, the focus was therefore on treating the building’s distinctive architecture with care. At the same time, we have succeeded in modernising the building technically and in terms of energy efficiency, whilst reconciling the requirements of heritage conservation with our sustainability goals. Salzgries 12 serves as a prime example of how careful revitalisation can contribute to the long-term preservation of value and responsible use.”

Centrally located, easily accessible
The property benefits from its location in the 1st district and excellent public transport links. The airport bus, underground, tram and bus routes are all within walking distance. The Danube Canal, Börseplatz and Rotenturmstraße, with its diverse range of dining options, are also within easy reach. The location thus combines the special ambience of a Viennese ‘Gründerzeit’ building with the advantages of a vibrant city-centre neighbourhood.

Highlights
• 2,700 m² of office space in an attractive city-centre location
• Spacious roof terrace, floor-to-ceiling windows and a prestigious entrance hall
• Raised floors and enhanced air circulation in the meeting rooms
• Bicycle storage room with e-bike charging points and changing rooms, including showers
• Heating and cooling via heat pump
• Photovoltaic modules
• Compliant with the EU Taxonomy
• DGNB/ÖGNI Gold (targeted)
• BREEAM In-Use Excellent (targeted)

Generali Real Estate S.p.A.
Zweigniederlassung Österreich
Lugeck 1-2
1010 Wien / Österreich
T +43 1 535 01 01

Fotos: Thomas Gobauer / Studio 38