Bene Office Furniture

architektur in progress: gaupenraub +/-

The series of lectures entitled 'architecture in progress' began its programme for 2002 with 'gaupenraub', the loosely organised group of architects surrounding Alexander Hagner.
'gaupenraub' ('skylight robbery') represents a sensitive, true-to-detail architecture that derives from long contemplation of one thing.
Seclusion, a philosophy of life and inventiveness are the basic parameters of Alexander Hagner's architecture.
For that, an environment has to be created, and in the case of 'gaupenraub' it is manifested in a place of thought, work and living high above and on top of the roofs of the 7th district of Vienna. The way the 'studio' began makes this clear: the very first designs were made in a tent, and on a desk in front of it, on the roof terrace.
Hagner reflects upon the little things that surround him, like a bookcase or a pepper mill. His pepper mill 'upsidedown' was the first model of this kitchen implement which - as defined by its name - is placed somewhere with the top downwards. It is a design that provides a good illustration of this architect's approach. An everyday object which one would not normally pay much attention to, but just use, becomes the object of small-scale research and design work, with the intention of not only making it more beautiful, but also more usable.
An Austrian master chef has declared this pepper mill to be his favourite object and says the design is right. 'Designs of sensual usability' would also be the best way to describe all the other projects, which have been completed under the name of 'gaupenraub' since 1999. Such as the conversion of a terraced house in Nussberggasse in Vienna, the central element of which is bedroom vaulting that extends into the staircase.
In this way not only is more room created from a practical point of view in the bedroom but also a new spatial structure is defined in the 'empty' hall, creating tension. The next large-scale project will be the conversion of a showroom and office space for Neudörfler in Dornbirn. The work of 'gaupenraub' was also seen in the design of the exhibition Gnadenlos for the Museum of Applied Art in Vienna. For Alexander Hagner, every task basically means reflecting and working on the essence of something. It may be old-fashioned that there are no computers standing around in the office or that architecture means the same as life - yet ideas always come from the head and energy from the working situation.

gaupenraub +/-
Alexander Hagner
Schottenfeldgasse 89/23
A- 1070 Vienna