A short
recap.
Previously, at the Hotel Daniel…
After opening our Hotel Daniel in Graz in 2005 it only seemed right to create a Daniel in Vienna in 2011 following our “Smart Lifestyle” principle, so that everyone could find the space they were looking for. Why? It’s very simple really – our guests insisted on it!
It is precisely the contemporary hospitality and stylish minimalism – aka Smart Lifestyle – which our guests at the Daniel in Graz value so much. It is also exactly what they wanted to see in Vienna too. Not difficult to understand. So in autumn 2011 we were only too happy to transform their dreams into reality.
The heart and soul of our hotel is always going to be the building it is situated in. this is why finding the right property in Vienna was always a top priority. Lots of buildings aspired to be the next Daniel, but only one proved to have exactly the right qualifications to fit the bill.
It was not only the historical substance, the unique architecture (it was the first building in Austria to be constructed using the revolutionary Curtain Wall technique) and the fantastic location of the building at Landstraßer Gürtel no. 5 that bowled us over. It also had a remarkable story to tell. It turns out that the listed building was designed in 1962 by the self-same architect who created the Daniel in Graz – the renowned Georg Lippert, who it seems was in great demand at the time! If that isn’t what you call a twist of fate…
Incidentally, we are fairly certain that Alois Daniel, who created the Daniel in Graz in 1886, also giving it his name, would have been excited about the Daniel in Vienna. At the very least about the approach we have taken to it.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
All Florian Weitzer Hotels are places where the past and future engage in a fascinating dialogue. The result is a present filled with vibrant, visionary hotels that continue their cultural heritage through tangible alliances with modernity – and postmodernity. The historically listed buildings are now handled with the utmost sensitivity toward their history, while also embracing a visionary outlook in response to the rapidly changing circumstances of the present. In this way, Florian Weitzer Hotels form a careful continuum between a captivating past, a stable present, and a hopeful future. Hotel Daniel Vienna is an office building from the 1960s that we reopened as a hotel in 2011. In November 2014, it was awarded the Austrian “National Prize for Architecture.” It was above all our sensitive approach to the listed building’s existing structure that convinced the jury.
Values that provide a solid foundation, visionary perspectives on the present and future, and a hands-on philosophy are lived and evolved across generations in the Weitzer family. This is particularly evident in the material heritage, with an ambitious effort to preserve exceptional buildings and artworks. On an immaterial level, this cultural engagement is lived in a holistic and profound way through close exchange with artists. Collaborations with cultural institutions such as Vienna Contemporary or Wien Modern are of great importance to us and enable contemporary responses to cultural questions.
In the spirit of Viennese tradition, the teams at Florian Weitzer Hotels embody tolerance and openness. The encounter and coming together of different cultures and traditions are a driving force behind a sustainable, cooperative entrepreneurial approach that remains steadfastly visionary in its pursuit of a peaceful society. Speaking of sustainability: for us, this means more than just pursuing upcycling projects – such as the renovation of the current reception desk, a special table from the 1940s. Our understanding of the term also includes the protection of habitats, plants, and animals. See for yourself: Styrian grapevines grow in the hotel’s front garden, and the magnolia that has flanked the building for decades has been lovingly cared for by us since we took over. Not to mention our in-house bees. We think and act sustainably.