Ágnes-Heller-Haus

Design Team：mohr niklas architekten
Size：13000 m²   
Location：Innsbruck ，Austria

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Feature：

Project - In the heart of Innsbruck, Austria, mohr niklas architekten have delivered a landmark new university building that strategically condenses the campus footprint to create valuable public greenery. Named after Hungarian philosopher Ágnes Heller, the Ágnes-Heller-Haus embodies her principles of vibrant community and unfettered freedom through its design. By compressing the building volume along the Innrain street edge, the architects have liberated a generous, publicly accessible campus green at the center of the site. This creates a verdant oasis and recreational space that connects the university precinct to the popular Inn River promenade. It's a bold urban planning move that not only shapes the building's striking cubic form, but also enhances the character of the surrounding area. Inside, the 13,000 sq m facility houses a 600-seat auditorium, 200-person lecture hall, canteen, library, offices and learning zones - all organized around a central atrium. This light-filled heart provides orientation and facilitates chance encounters, operating as a democratic interface between the building's diverse functions. Referencing Innsbruck's historic arcades, the main entrance portal by artist Peter Sandbichler bridges the university's academic program with the fabric of the city. Overall, the Ágnes-Heller-Haus demonstrates how measured density can unlock valuable public realms, placing environmental and social sustainability at the core of the campus experience.

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Design Team - Established in Dornbirn, Austria, mohr niklas architekten has evolved over the decades into a highly accomplished architectural design firm, now led by principals Günter Mohr and Markus Niklas. With extensive expertise across a range of building typologies, the practice is celebrated for its thoughtful, contextual approach that deftly balances functional demands with inspired design. Günter Mohr obtained his architecture degree from the Graz University of Technology and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, before gaining valuable experience at renowned local firms. Markus Niklas, born in 1990, brings a younger perspective having trained at the Vienna University of Technology and Aalto University in Helsinki. Together, they have assembled an accomplished team of architects, engineers and specialists who share a commitment to excellence and innovation. Mohr niklas architekten's portfolio spans residential, educational, transportation and cultural projects, all distinguished by a meticulous attention to detail, user experience and sustainable principles. Notable works include the Ágnes-Heller-Haus university building in Innsbruck and the Bruck an der Leitha train station, which have earned numerous accolades from industry juries. Driven by a collaborative spirit and conceptual rigor, the studio continues to elevate architectural discourse in Austria and beyond.