Grazer Burg

In the heart of Graz's old town, Swietelsky is awakening a historical gem from its slumber. On approximately 1,600 m² of interior space and over 5,700 m² of outdoor areas, we are currently realizing one of Austria's most exciting revitalization projects.

Graz Castle is no ordinary construction project – it's open-heart surgery on Styrian history. Our team on site is currently demonstrating how modern specialized construction techniques and historical preservation can go hand in hand.

200 Tons of Load on Steel: Precision Work in the Friedrich Wing

The greatest technical challenge of recent weeks lay in the so-called "Single Column Hall." A 15th-century Gothic column, damaged in World War II, had to be completely replaced.

This required the highest level of engineering skill: While the damaged column was removed and replaced with a new one, the weight of the castle building above it—more than 200 tons—had to be supported by a temporary steel structure.

What made this feat of engineering so remarkable was that the Styrian state government's operations continued completely uninterrupted. While tons of weight were moved with millimeter precision on the ground floor, the governor and his team were able to carry out their official business without any restrictions on the floors above. This monumental undertaking was successfully completed at the beginning of December.

Construction Site in the Public Eye

The location and importance of the site add further complexity. As Graz Castle is a publicly accessible place and an integral part of the tourist route in the old town, the construction site experiences a high volume of pedestrians and visitors. Logistics and security measures are carefully planned to ensure that tourism and the daily flow of visitors through the historic courtyards can be safely maintained despite the intensive revitalization work.

Historic Preservation Meets Modern Construction Technology

This project is far more than a traditional renovation. In close collaboration with the Federal Monuments Office and the FH Joanneum Archaeology Department, we are employing state-of-the-art methods to preserve the historical fabric:

• Gothic Court Chapel: By removing a 19th-century intermediate floor, we have restored the original two-story layout from the time of Emperor Frederick III.

• Visitor Center and Event Venue: The Renaissance Hall will house the new reception center, while the former registry wing will be converted into a modern event hall.

• Structural Stabilization: Using jet grouting and targeted masonry injections, we are permanently stabilizing the historical fabric of the old city wall.

• Bicycle Garage: To provide modern, car-free access, we are constructing a new reinforced concrete bicycle garage in the second castle courtyard.

Climate-Resilient Outdoor Spaces: Urban Forest and Sponge City

On the 5,700 m² of courtyard space, we are implementing pioneering ecological concepts:

• Courtyard 2: Here, an urban forest is being created, including an automated misting and irrigation system that actively regulates the microclimate through evaporative cooling.

• Courtyard 3: This courtyard will be designed as a sponge city. Beneath the paving, we are installing a system that stores rainwater locally and releases it gradually to the trees, instead of letting it flow unused into the sewer system.