Imagine Baron Othon de Bourgoing strolling along this very street. He envisioned a residence that mirrored his prominent status. This is the Palais Bourgoing.
Completed in 1891, the Palais Bourgoing stands as a testament to late historicism. It is located at Metternichgasse 12. Baron Othon de Bourgoing, a member of the French embassy, commissioned it. He played a significant role in Viennese society.
Amand Louis Bauqu and Albert Emilio Pio designed it. These French architects had moved from Paris to Vienna. They sought to escape the intense competition. Heinrich and Franz Glaser, a Viennese firm, executed the construction.
Notice the banded facade. Neo-Empire elements adorn the building. Look closely at the windows on the top floor. See the triangular gables? The asymmetrical corner projections add character. The entrance features a beautiful semicircular arch. Wappenkartuschen, or coat of arms cartouches, decorate it. Three consoles display rich Empire details. They support a balcony with a wrought iron lattice.
Baron Bourgoing only lived here until 1904. He then moved to a smaller building. Sigismund Baron von Springer bought the Palais Bourgoing. Springer added a mezzanine level. Some say this altered the building’s proportions.
Valentine Springer, Sigismund’s widow, inherited the Palais. She was a niece of Nathaniel Rothschild. The Palais Bourgoing has housed the Vienna Film Academy since 1968. It continues to inspire creativity.
Take in the details. The location of Palais Bourgoing is near the Belvedere and Palais Schwarzenberg. This area became a favored residential area after 1870. High society in Vienna moved here.
The Palais Bourgoing is set back from the street. It is connected to the Anglican Church by a garden. The street front is enclosed by a representative gate. The Bourgoing family crest was replaced. It became a large “S” for Springer after 1904.
The Palais Bourgoing showcases French early classicism. It has a ground floor, an upper floor, and a mansard floor. A central projection dominates the facade. Ionic pilasters flank its three large arched windows.
Originally, the gable field showed the Bourgoing-Kinsky alliance coat of arms. Later, it was replaced with the Springer-Rothschild arms. The Lower Vestibule is clad in colored marble. A painting from around 1800 depicts Bacchus and Ariadne.
A grand salon once served as the Palais’ social hub. A marble fireplace with a rounded mirror stood in the center. Fabric-covered wall panels displayed works by famous artists. Reliefs adorned the door frames. The Empire-style library had a painted coffered ceiling. Mahogany bookcases featured brass and bronze details.
While much of Bourgoing’s art collection was sold, the Palais’ architecture remains. It is a reminder of a bygone era. The Palais Bourgoing is now home to aspiring filmmakers. It continues to foster artistic endeavors within its historic walls.