Upper Austria Provincial Archives

Competition /// The Bergheim Castle estate is a prominent landmark that significantly shapes the surrounding landscape. Originally conceived as a standalone castle with ancillary buildings, the historic complex has evolved into a clearly defined ensemble centred around a courtyard, with a comb-like extension to the west.

The design builds upon this historic spatial arrangement. The institution is accessed via the central courtyard and the new archive building is developed as a continution of the comb-like structure. The castle courtyard becomes the defining entrance to the Provincial Archives. As an address-forming forecourt, it brings together arrival, orientation and formal gathering, while also serving as the starting point for the site’s future development.

The building height follows a clear hierarchical progression. Connected to the castle at a scale of three storeys, the volume gradually rises to seven storeys towards the west. This composition references the typology of regional granary buildings, giving the Provincial Archives, as a public institution, an appropriate presence within the surrounding landscape.