When it comes to run-of-the-mill chain hotels– specifically those near major transit hubs like Vienna’s Westbahnhof (Western train station)– ground-floor amenities tend to be primary and standardized, using exactly the same thing no matter place. Lobbies, adjoining restaurants, and bars are hardly ever anything special; a far cry from what shop destinations tend to offer these days. That all changes with Paris-based Atelier OLK’s comprehensive remodelling of the Ibis Wien Mariahilf.
Why shouldn’t these oft-underutilized, dull, yet substantial areas– frequently positioned in central, largely inhabited, and desirable places– serve a greater purpose and look excellent doing so? That’s precisely what the practice set out to do. Transforming the hotel’s nearly 10,000-square-foot street level into the newly opened Günter Dining establishment, Bar & More, Atelier OLK selected 2 complementary strategies. On the one hand, it looked for to honor the abundant style history of the city– the late 19th-and early 20th-century expertise of
extremely influential talents like Josef Hoffmann, Otto Wagner, and Adolf Loos. On the other, it promoted performance, a level of functionality lined up with today’s requirement for versatility, convenience, and in-person social interaction. The brand-new offering is certainly a 3rd, even fourth, location for both hotel visitors going through and area locals alike, those in requirement of such haven. A few years back, nobody would have believed the nearby Ibis might be it. In true Viennese fashion, there’s a duality of impacts: the restraint that comes from the North (Germany) and the enthusiasm that comes from the South (Italy and other Mediterranean nations). The company’s thorough intervention is both rigorous and geometric, yet likewise sensual and layered. Sparingly textured worthy products play well with red velours, leopard prints, and chrome accents. Atelier OLK began by removing the drop ceilings that had rendered the space spacious and chose to expose mechanical equipment like ducting in order to develop greater depth and imbue the area with monumentality. It then redistributed walls and, guided by the pillars of the parking garage above, marked a series of alcoves: intimate yet connected seating plans. There are likewise locations devoted to karaoke nights, conferences, and talks. The monumental counter, at the space’s core, is utilized to serve breakfast to name a few meals. Throughout, patterns obtained from the Secession age intermix with decidedly modern flourishes. Visual floor inlays are delimited by indicated pathways, their marble patterns similar to traditional Viennese interiors. Tiles– black, white, and otherwise– play well together, producing visual impacts that are structured yet meaningful. The
introduced furnishings are far less austere; even more casual and eclectic. < img src= "https://design-milk.com/images/2026/05/Gunter-Restaurant-Atelier-OLK-12-800x1187.jpg"alt=" A bartender stands behind a red-tiled bar with a gold counter at Günter dining establishment, designed by Atelier OLK.
Racks with bottles and a neon Günter indication radiance in the background.”width =”800″height=” 1187 “/ >
The space is grounded yet airy, sensible and sensorial. It’s positive, certainly as an example of how other such properties in Austria, Europe, and the larger world might be transformed. < img src="https://design-milk.com/images/2026/05/Gunter-Restaurant-Atelier-OLK-17-800x1200.jpg" alt="A contemporary restaurant interior by Atelier OLK with red and wood accents, globe light, green plants, and large windows allowing natural light." width="800" height="1200"/ > To find out more about the firm or check out more, go to atelierolk.com and guenter-wien. com, respectively. Photography courtesy of Günter Dining establishment, Bar & More. Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer concentrating on collectible and sustainable style. With a specific focus on topics that exemplify the very best in craft-led experimentation, he’s devoted to supporting skills that forge ahead in numerous disciplines.