URBA Vienna Showroom
Architect: URBA
Project team: Anna Heinrich, Andrea Juhász, Márton Lengyel
Area: 60 sqm
Year: 2021
Location: Vienna, Austria
Furniture production: KOMOK
Photography: Matti Varga
Text: Lidia Vajda
Graphic design: Rebeka Juhász
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Hungarian architect & design studio URBA has opened their new showroom and workspace in Palais Harrach, an exquisite example of Baroque architecture in Vienna, Austria. The palace was originally built by the noble Harrach family and was finished in 1696. Following a turbulent history, the building was extensively renovated and restored in the late 1990s, where most of the original features were kept, including a large inner courtyard. Today the palace houses offices, art galleries, restaurants and shops.
Embracing the given historical structure of the palace, URBA has created a calm and richly textured interior for meetings, casual get-togethers, and product showcases. The idea was to create a warm, welcoming space that still feels unperfected, just like when we arrived somewhere unexplored.
Doubling as a Vienna headquarters for the design team, the space is filled with curated contemporary & vintage furniture and accessories, such as a teapot from young Hungarian talent Ábel Lakatos or “Cloud” lamps designed by György Radnóti in 1976. The decor is minimal, and the colours are muted, in keeping with URBA's intimate minimalist aesthetic.
Among the homeware and accessories on the totems shown as part of the debut, URBA's new tables and chairs are also present. The centrepiece of the place is a 3 meters long pine table paired with vintage Thonet chairs, while other stools and chairs are arranged in a lounge-style layout around a structured brushed steel coffee table. The balance between the richness of natural materials and restraint of the colour palette quietly encourages interaction and intimacy.
Another highlight of the space is the Onyx chair, initially designed for Hungary's only 2 Michelin star restaurant. The chair is characterised by its three oak legs topped with an oil finish and leather back & seat. It was primarily designed to fulfil the needs in a restaurant environment, namely durability, comfort, stability and efficient manufacturing process. Over time the chair proved itself to suit various moods and ambiences.
The showroom will be regularly updated as URBA releases new furniture, accessories and the intention is that the open layout will evolve as the studio grows.
Currently, the space is available to visit by appointment only.
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