BEHF Architects developed a striking high-rise tower for the Vienna skyline
The Erdberger Mais area in Vienna’s third district is currently one of the largest urban development zones in the city. BEHF Architects were not only commissioned to develop a masterplan for the area but also to create a high-quality residential tower. The striking HELIO Tower, designed as part of the three-tower residential high-rise project known as THE MARKS, serves as an exemplar of comfortable, modern housing in a densely populated urban area.
The HELIO Tower project was undertaken by BEHF Architects with great dedication over several years. BEHF, in collaboration with two other architectural firms, was invited to participate in the city’s very first cooperative project of such magnitude. Coordinated by the City of Vienna, they jointly created a masterplan for the Franzosengraben area, located between the South-East tangent of the A23 city motorway and the Gasometer. Working alongside highly qualified partners and stakeholders, they cultivated and improved the unique qualities of this sensitive and challenging location through various phases.
Today, a vibrant new residential quarter with a variety of building projects is taking shape in Erdberger Mais. The attractive three-tower residential high-rise project, THE MARKS, will serve as the focal point of this new urban district. Soaring above Vienna’s rooftops, this remarkable residential complex not only transforms the city’s skyline but also offers a lively public square and a series of green spaces, including a ground-level park.
The three towers are set upon a plinth, which serves as a connecting element and provides a dynamic mix of spaces for gatherings, leisure, training, and shopping. It also incorporates Austria’s largest bicycle rack with a height of 12 meters and a capacity of 2,000 parking spaces. Above it, the high-rise apartment buildings are situated. All of them offer spacious glazed loggias and balconies, providing breathtaking panoramic views of nearby landmarks such as the Prater, the Danube Canal, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and even the Leitha Mountains to the east.
BEHF’s HELIO Tower, whose name is inspired by the Greek sun god, presents itself as a tall, slender structure enveloped in glass and framed with a colored concrete grid. With 401 apartments ranging from one to four rooms, the tower offers modern and comfortable living spaces designed to accommodate a variety of lifestyles and needs, making it suitable for every stage of life. As such, it establishes a robust benchmark for the future of quality urban housing.
The project received the European Property Award in the category “Residential High-rise Development Austria”, the Callwey-Award „Beste Wohnbauten des Jahres 2023“ and the “German Design Award 2024”.
