Thomas Rogl
Kongresszentrum Bad Gastein
Master’s thesis TU Graz, 2022
Reviving a Brutalist Icon in Bad Gastein
Thomas Rogl’s 2022 master’s thesis reimagines Gerhard Garstenauer’s brutalist masterpiece 'Congress Center' in alpine Bad Gastein (Salzburg, Austria). With a visionary take on adaptive reuse, Rogl breathes new life into this endangered landmark and the connected historic hotel 'Haus Austria', crafting a proposal that blends heritage, innovation, and sustainability. 🏔️✨ Bad Gastein, famed for its radon-rich thermal springs, was once a magnet for emperors and dignitaries, cementing its status as a world-renowned health resort. In the 1970s, architect Garstenauer—who completed his habilitation at TU Graz—partnered with Mayor Anton Kerschbaumer to spearhead the town’s modernization. Iconic projects like the Felsentherme and the Congress Center as well as the dome-shaped ski-lift station in Sportgastein (1972) emerged during this golden era, earning accolades such as Salzburg’s Architecture Prize in 1975. However, decades of neglect and looming threats of insensitive interventions now jeopardize this architectural legacy.
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Kongresszentrum Bad Gastein
Master’s thesis TU Graz, 2022
Reviving a Brutalist Icon in Bad Gastein
Thomas Rogl’s 2022 master’s thesis reimagines Gerhard Garstenauer’s brutalist masterpiece 'Congress Center' in alpine Bad Gastein (Salzburg, Austria). With a visionary take on adaptive reuse, Rogl breathes new life into this endangered landmark and the connected historic hotel 'Haus Austria', crafting a proposal that blends heritage, innovation, and sustainability. 🏔️✨ Bad Gastein, famed for its radon-rich thermal springs, was once a magnet for emperors and dignitaries, cementing its status as a world-renowned health resort. In the 1970s, architect Garstenauer—who completed his habilitation at TU Graz—partnered with Mayor Anton Kerschbaumer to spearhead the town’s modernization. Iconic projects like the Felsentherme and the Congress Center as well as the dome-shaped ski-lift station in Sportgastein (1972) emerged during this golden era, earning accolades such as Salzburg’s Architecture Prize in 1975. However, decades of neglect and looming threats of insensitive interventions now jeopardize this architectural legacy.
Rogl’s bold proposal seeks to rescue and transform these structures into anchors of a reimagined urban center. By leveraging Garstenauer’s original vision, local materials, and cutting-edge building technologies, his project offers a sustainable future that respects the past. This adaptive reuse approach not only preserves heritage but positions Bad Gastein as a model for the intersection of architecture, culture, and sustainability. Through his thesis, Rogl contributes to the ongoing renaissance of the "skyscraper village in the Alps," envisioning a future where Bad Gastein reclaims its rightful place on the global stage as an icon of resilient, innovative design. 💡🌍
#BadGastein #garstenauer #sportgastein #Brutalism #sosbrualism #ArchitecturalLegacy #AdaptiveReuse #Sustainability
Attemsgasse 11
8010 Graz, Austria
Staatlich befugter und beeideter Ziviltechniker
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Unless otherwise stated, all materials on this website and the ideas incorporated herein, as an instrument of professional service, are protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights belonging to Andreas Lechner, its affiliates or its licensors and all such rights are hereby asserted and reserved. No part of this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, posted, transmitted or distributed in any way for commercial purposes. Any modification or use of the information contained on this website for any purpose not explicitly permitted without prior written consent is a violation of the author’s intellectual property rights and is strictly prohibited.
︎︎︎Site Map, Imprint & DSGVO