A New Place to Meet: The House of Strauss Cultural Hotspot
Vienna has plenty of special venues with a history and cultural background. The newest location is the House of Strauss at Casino Zögernitz, which opened on October 25, 2023. It houses a 2,000 m² modern museum in the original and lavishly restored rooms, which presents the history of the Strauss dynasty in an interactive setting, with acoustics and visuals, LED walls and sculptures as projection surfaces.
Historical setting
Black and white marble floors, old wallpaper lithographs, restored ceiling frescoes, opulent crystal chandeliers, velvet-covered futons and original 19th century Thonet furniture are all reminders of the history of the listed building, which was built in 1837. The Casino Zögernitz - once a popular meeting place for Viennese society - now has a new look after a sensitive historical refurbishment and restoration of the original paintwork.
Danube Waltz in the Octagon
The theme on the ground floor of the central octagon is the story of Johann Strauss II's legendary Danube Waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube". The world-famous musical composition - which is always on the program of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert - is regarded as the unofficial anthem of Vienna. The room can be booked for smaller events for up to 50 people.
The Strauss Hall: an architectural highlight
The Octagon leads to the heart of the building, the acoustically stunning and visually impressive 340 m² Strauss Hall. The Strauss family and many other musicians and composers such as Joseph Lanner and Carl Michael Ziehrer performed here during the 19th century. Recordings of early and classical music were made here from 1967 onwards, for instance with conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt and his Concentus Musicus. The Strauss Hall is suitable for events for up to 380 people, who will certainly remember this historic venue.
Fine dining in the Casino Kulinarium
Award-winning chef Stefan Glantschnig serves fine Viennese cuisine in the adjoining Casino Kulinarium restaurant, which has a 500 m² garden with mature trees and a historic fountain. The restaurant can seat up to 80 people.
Tradition and innovation
Interior designer Denis Košutić is responsible for giving the House of Strauss that finishing touch. The high quality of the museum is guaranteed by the internationally award-winning Atelier Brückner, whose projects have caused quite a stir, such as the Grand Museum of Egypt (Giza) and the Museum of the Future (Dubai), as well as the renovation of the Austrian Parliament in Vienna.
An interesting fact: the House of Strauss is home to the world's leading Strauss experts from the Vienna Institute for Strauss Research, which is headed by a descendant of the Strauss dynasty - Professor Dr. Eduard Strauss is the great-grandnephew of Johann Strauss II.
Read more about the House of Strauss at www.houseofstrauss.at.
