Corner
︎︎︎Conversion & Extension of an Interwar Building in Gratkorn, Greater Graz, AT (2021-2023)
︎︎︎Conversion & Extension of an Interwar Building in Gratkorn, Greater Graz, AT (2021-2023)
The building responds thoughtfully to the diverse architectural landscape of the community, integrating a rich mosaic of local materials and textured surfaces. This deliberate layering results in a distinctive, multi-faceted structure that mirrors the industrial / agricultural duality of Gratkorn, a town nestled in the northern suburbs of Graz. Here, a two-square-kilometer paper mill—employing around 2,000 people—dominates the local economy and physical environment. The project is an extension of an interwar corner building, once the local butcher's shop, transforming it into a new architectural landmark at the intersection of two main streets.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Respecting zoning regulations and property line setbacks, the extension features a skewed ground floor and a stepped first floor. The new corner is designed as a pars pro toto, with the intersection of the two floors accentuated by contrasting colors, geometries, surface treatments, and façade elements. This conversion and expansion of the mixed-use building amplifies the existing structures, creating a cohesive identity that resonates with the municipality's architectural heritage. The revitalization of the central intersection is driven by high-quality design, blending gastronomy, retail, and services. As the keystone of the central street axis, the building serves as a gateway to public squares and facilities, including schools and the municipal building further down the street. It establishes an identity-shaping meeting point with a public character at the junction of the two main traffic arteries, offering a vibrant alternative to the "third places" typically found in the car-centric strip malls, petrol stations, and retail parks that define the outskirts of Northern Graz.
As a conversion and extension of a commercial and residential building from the interwar period the design builds on these existing buildings in the municipality, creating a sense of identity by responding to and furthering this typical building structure in terms of design and dialogue. The project revitalizes the run-down central intersection with high-quality design, gastronomy, retail and services - in form of two stepped multi-purpose floors/halls being added.
Attemsgasse 11
8010 Graz, Austria
Staatlich befugter und beeideter Ziviltechniker
© Studio Andreas Lechner. All rights reserved.
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
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