The historic Building 1 of the Semmelweis grounds is to be adapted for the purposes of a Federal Higher Institute for Business Professions and a Federal Vocational School for Business and Social Professions, with the existing historic fabric carefully restored. Set within a public park, the building stands as a self-contained pavilion, clearly visible from Bastiengasse. Within this layered context – encompassing a listed historic structure, a public green space, and the wider urban realm – the proposed concept advocates a sensitive approach to both the historic architecture and the adjacent open spaces.

The guiding principle behind the choice of access routes was the creation of a campus embedded within the landscape. Accordingly, the main entrance is proposed via the public park. Between Buildings 1 and 2, a forecourt integrated into the landscape design is conceived as a shared space for arrival, pause, and social encounter – accessible both from the entrance on Bastiengasse and through the gate on Erndtgasse. The circulation routes are designed to ensure that any future adaptation of Building 2 will equally benefit from the same quality of open space.

A service entrance for the delivery of supplies to the operational and teaching kitchens is planned along Bastiengasse. In line with the building elevation of the corner projections to the north, a spatial addition is introduced at basement and ground floor level, rising to the cornice line. The newly created volume defines a clear edge towards the park, enhancing both the functional capacity and the architectural presence of the existing building.

A spatial ensemble comprising the library, the aula and entrance area, and the dining hall is established – one that maintains a constant functional and experiential dialogue between inside and outside. The entirety of the extension is kept as transparent as possible, preserving views of the historic façades from within. Into the two-storey volume, a single-storey element is inserted along the historic building axis, accentuating the new main entrance to the school. A generous reading staircase adjacent to the library connects the entrance level with the centrally located cloakroom area on the ground floor. The library itself is conceived across two storeys, with the upper level opening directly onto the project room.

The roof of the extension at first floor level is designed as an exclusive outdoor space for the Federal Higher Institute for Business Professions – offering supplementary break areas, outdoor classrooms, and raised garden beds.