The University Mozarteum Salzburg has moved into a striking new facility at Kurgarten, with the music institute designed by Austrian-Finnish architectural firm Berger Parkkinen officially set to open in October. The Vienna and Helsinki-based practice was previously responsible for the adjacent Paracelsus Bad, creating a cohesive architectural dialogue in this historic district.
The architects faced the unique challenge of harmonizing their new design with both their own previous work and the surrounding historical context. For their 2019 Paracelsus Bad spa and wellness center, Berger Parkkinen created a distinctive wave-like facade that became an iconic feature. For the university building, known as UMAK (short for Universität Mozarteum am Kurgarten), they adopted a more subdued approach while maintaining visual coherence through material choices and architectural language.
The building's strategic positioning creates a thoughtful transition between the denser 19th-century development to the north and the open baroque landscape of Mirabell Palace to the south. The architects achieved this balance through a split-volume design, with two building masses of varying heights and sizes. The connection to the neighboring Paracelsus Bad is maintained through the use of ceramic facade panels, though rendered in angular rather than wave-like forms.
Commissioned in 2021 by Stadt Salzburg Immobilien and the Mozarteum University, the project serves dual purposes of expanding spatial capacity and advancing the institution's digital media capabilities. The building encompasses nearly 4,000 square meters of gross floor area, housing specialized facilities for voice instruction, vocal pedagogy, and choral studies. A highlight of the modern amenities is the X-Reality Lab, a cutting-edge multimedia laboratory designed to support research in extended visual, video, and audio environments. The facility also includes an electronic studio dedicated to contemporary music composition.
The architectural solution of dividing the program into two volumes proved practical for accommodating the varying ceiling heights required for performance halls and practice rooms. A central functional spine serves both sections, connecting to the building-height atrium in the larger volume and the glazed joint transitioning to the smaller section. The facade treatment employs ceramic panels with varying surface textures to differentiate functional zones – closed surfaces conceal areas like the underground parking entrance and studios, while concert halls and rehearsal rooms feature large openings positioned behind protective louvres.
Natural lighting strategies vary throughout the building, with teaching rooms receiving punched windows that open to both exterior views and the internal atrium. External windows incorporate integrated sun protection and glare control systems. According to university officials, the reinforced concrete structure represents a total construction investment of 22.3 million euros, based on February 2024 estimates. The October opening will mark a significant expansion of Salzburg's renowned music education infrastructure.
