Pause for a moment and picture this. You are transported back to 1837, right here in front of Sünnhof. Carl Sünn, a lawyer and owner of the house “Zum Kopf an der Landstraße” decided to connect his property to the house in Ungargasse built in 1823.
Sünnhof is a typical Biedermeier complex. It features a long stretched inner courtyard nestled in the Landstraße suburb. The plot was only about 17 meters wide and 170 meters long. It was gradually built on both sides. By 1850, a narrow paved yard about 5 meters wide and nearly 160 meters long had emerged. The three to four story buildings emphasized its narrowness.
Artisans once filled the vaulted ground floor spaces of Sünnhof. Shoemakers worked alongside tailors. Glaziers and carpenters busied themselves. Stonemasons, locksmiths, frame makers, basket makers, florists and hairdressers all worked here. Above them, in the upper stories, they lived. Thus, Sünnhof can be considered an early “trade yard”.
Around 1800, the director of the Leopoldstädter Theater, Karl Marinelli, used it as a summer residence. The Sünnhof remained in the Sünn family’s possession until the mid 19th century.
By 1980, Sünnhof was in poor condition. Robert Rogner, a builder from Villach, joined forces with Viennese architects Josef Krawina and Günther Oberhofer. Together, they found new uses for Sünnhof. Besides creating a connection between Landstraßer Hauptstraße and Ungargasse, they also established a path between Baumannstraße and Pfarrhofgasse.
From 1981 to 1984, a comprehensive renovation saved Sünnhof from decay. It revitalized the area. However, some original architectural plans were not realized. These included a glass screen over the entire shopping passage and a glass dome over the “Plaza”. The Plaza was planned for the intersection of the two passages.
Today the “Hotel Biedermeier im Sünnhof” is located in the Sünnhof complex. You can experience the charm of the Biedermeier era firsthand. The Sünnhof is more than just a building. It is a living piece of Vienna’s history. It connects past and present within its walls. As you pass through the Sünnhof today, remember the artisans and residents who once filled this unique urban space. Imagine the sounds of their crafts and the stories of their lives echoing through the courtyard.