Main headquarters of the Austrian Automobile Club

During the past century, Austrian architecture has often managed to break free from the rigid monarchy. From the beginnings of the Secession movement through post-war actionism to today's echoes of deconstructivism. The new ÖAMTC (Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club) headquarters, located on the inner bypass of Vienna, sends a clear signal with its futuristic form that we have entered the 21st century. When you drive through the Vienna district of Erdberg on the Alt Simmering highway, the ÖAMTC appears like an alien vehicle. The protruding glass shell helps improve the acoustic barrier against the neighboring busy road. The colorful night lighting enhances the dynamism of the entire structure, where life and mobility pulsate from the basement (car repair shop) to the roof (helicopters). In addition to pedestrian walkways and long access ramps for cars, there is a trio of helipad areas on the roof.
The ÖAMTC traffic club brings together more than two million members from all over Austria and, in addition to traffic news, also offers assistance with vehicle breakdowns and operates an air rescue service. This diverse range of services has shaped the final design of the new ÖAMTC administrative building and dispatch center. Various functions are connected to the vertical communication axis, from the car repair shop in the basement, through the customer center on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors, to the rescue service dispatch center on the highest floor. The building, primarily serving motorists, resembles a giant means of transport hovering on sloping columns above the surrounding industrial halls. The star-shaped layout is further evidence of the efficiency and speed of the entire organization. Another important element was overall transparency and clarity, where passersby can see deep into the core of the building and customers can observe auto mechanics repairing their vehicle through the glass wall.