Revealing

the Building

The Liechtenstein City Palace (Palais Liechtenstein) is located behind the Burgtheater, next to the Embassy of Liechtenstein. It is not as well known as its big brother, the Liechtenstein Garden Palace (Gartenpalais Liechtenstein) with its extensive gardens. There were plans to turn the City Palace into a museum as well, but in the end it was decided to open it to the public for guided tours, concerts and other events on a temporary basis only.
 

The architectural history of the building is most interesting. Having started out as a baroque structure, it has been almost completely redesigned in an opulent and ornate neo-rococo style, and is full of contemporary high-tech innovations such as a ventilation system, a multi-channel communication system, flexible walls and doors, and much more besides.
 

In 2009, podpod design was invited to design the lighting for the vestibule, the staircase, the representational rooms and the façade. “The lighting solution for the baroque staircase was not straightforward because this is such a complex and interfolded space with numerous openings and axes of view in all directions,” explained Michael and Iris Podgorschek of podpod design. “The luminaires were all positioned on the cornices. Louvered MASTERColour downlights were used for the general lighting, with LED linear floodlights and LED spots being used to illuminate the vaults and the numerous sculptures.”