Here’s Tuya

A destination within a destination

This French Riviera-flavored destination restaurant is in Vienna’s historic center, situated on a typical Viennese pedestrian path just a couple of doors down from Stephansplatz, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stepping out the restaurant’s front entrance reveals a partial view of the square’s main attraction: Stephansdom, St. Stephen’s Cathedral. St. Stephen’s was completed in 1433 and is still one of the world’s tallest churches at 136.6 meters. Nearby is a Hollein-designed commercial center, Haas Haus. The once-disputed juxtaposition is accepted today as a case in point of modern and medieval design complementarity.

Tuya’s interior transformation was completed under the watchful eye of the city’s commission on historic preservation, of course, or “na no na net,” as the Viennese might say. Heavy loads and access to the site for material delivery were strictly regulated. The commission required that at least 15 percent of the original design be retained, so the new interior was developed around one of Hollein’s grand signature statements: a helical staircase in cream marble, along with most of the original marble floor.