Gerhard Garstenauer is undoubtedly one of Austria's most important architects of the second half of the 20th century. His work may be largely concentrated geographically in the city and province of Salzburg, but his architectural approach and precise implementation of design ideas have gained national and international recognition. Garstenauer celebrates his centenary in 2025 - an occasion that highlights the importance of his work for building culture far beyond the anniversary.
Garstenauer was an architect whose work was always based on clear concepts and methodical thinking. Every line, every space and every material was carefully thought through. His architecture was never an end in itself, but embedded in social and cultural contexts. Whether as a planner, teacher or driving force in commissions and juries: Garstenauer shaped Salzburg for decades as a critical and charismatic voice of building culture. His buildings show how architecture can act as a cultural statement and provide social impetus.
Exhibition view © Salzburg Museum/Maurice Rigaud
His most important projects include the Felsentherme in Bad Gastein and the Stubnerkogelbahn - masterpieces that are not only functional, but also embody modernity as an attitude and attitude to life. In the conservative post-war landscape, they created visionary spaces that were both experimental and future-oriented. The precise use of materials, the clear formal language and the dialog with the surroundings make Garstenauer's architecture remarkable and inspiring to this day.
A stroke of luck for research is Garstenauer's extensive estate, which has been accessible and digitally recorded at the Salzburg Museum since 2010. This enables a well-founded scientific evaluation that comprehensively illuminates Garstenauer's work. Martin Hochleitner, Director of the Salzburg Museum, emphasizes the importance of this collection: "The estate makes it possible not only to honor Garstenauer retrospectively, but also to make his work accessible to future generations and to convey it in discourse."
Exhibition view © Salzburg Museum/Maurice Rigaud
The special exhibition "Garstenauer One Hundred. Architect - Designer - Thinker", which can be seen at the Architekturhaus Salzburg until February 20, 2026, is a multi-layered homage. It combines retrospection, analysis and appeal: many of the once celebrated buildings are threatened by conversion, neglect or demolition. The exhibition makes it clear that the conscious handling of the architectural heritage of modernism is a central task for the present and the future. It invites visitors to engage with an era in which Salzburg was architecturally visionary and to preserve the spirit of this building culture for future generations.
October 17, 2025 to February 20, 2026
www.salzburgmuseum.at
