The Redouten Halls in the Vienna Hofburg

Catastrophe and reconstruction

The Redouten Wing of the Vienna Hofburg can be found on the right-hand side of Josefsplatz and connects the Stallburg with the State Hall tract. The Redouten Wing with its one larger and one smaller Redouten Halls are constructed by architect Nicolaus Pacassi (1716-1790) in around 1769. But its history goes back much further than that.

Initially there is a ballroom at the northwest corner of Josefsplatz, commissioned by Eleonora Gonzaga, the 2nd wife of Emperor Ferdinand II (1578-1637) in 1629. Later the ballroom is converted into a theatre.

When Nicolaus Pacassi takes on the extension of the Vienna Hofburg, the theatre is converted. One larger and one smaller room for masquerade balls or Redouten are conceived for the newly erected wing.

At the beginning of the 20th century the façade of the Redouten Wing is converted into the Baroque style, before the Redouten Halls are developed into conference rooms in 1973. The negotiations for the Conference for Safety and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) for instance are held here from 1986.

A few years later on November 27, 1992 a devastating fire destroys most of the Redouten Halls and the conference centre within. Even the famous Lipizzan horses from the Spanish Riding School have to be brought to safety when fire threatens to engulf the building on all sides.

The damage is great. The valuable stucco ceiling of the large Redouten Hall from 1892 falls in, the entire Baroque roof timbering falls victim to the flames. There is less damage to the small Redouten Hall, but the Winter Riding School, the stables in the Stallburg as well as the western wall of the State hall of the National Library are badly affected by the water used to put out the fire.

The complete restoration of the Redouten Wing takes until 1997. While the small Redouten Hall is restored to its original appearance, the large Redouten Hall gets a contemporary makeover with oil paintings by Josef Mikl. There is a special idea for the loft floor: a modern press foyer with a fantastic view of the Hofburg’s Michaelerkuppel.