UMAK Mozarteum University by Berger Parkkinen + Architects

In 2021, Berger Parkkinen + Architects were commissioned to design and construct a new building for the Mozarteum University at the Kurgarten (UMAK) in Salzburg. Located directly beside the Paracelsus Bad & Kurhaus, also designed by the same practice and completed in 2019, the new university building creates a harmonious architectural dialogue within the historic city center. Together, the two buildings represent a contemporary addition to Salzburg’s rich urban fabric, balancing modern clarity with respect for heritage and context.

The Mozarteum University is an internationally renowned institution, dedicated to the arts and, in particular, to music. Designing a new facility for such a prestigious cultural anchor required an approach that acknowledged both urban morphology and educational function, while also offering a sustainable framework for the future.

Site and Urban Integration

The new building sits within a delicate urban context, shaped by the historic Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the spa gardens of the Kurgarten, and the Wilhelminian-style city blocks along Markus-Sittikus-Straße. Rather than responding only to the site boundaries, the architects considered the entire network of parks and streets, recognizing that the building would act as a hinge between Baroque, Wilhelminian, and modern layers of Salzburg’s cityscape.

To mediate between these conditions, the building was conceived as two distinct volumes, carefully staggered in height and scale. This dual structure reflects the contrasting urban edges: a denser, closed frontage along Auerspergstraße, and a more open, permeable side along Schwarzstraße. The articulation allows UMAK to act as both a civic presence on the street and a gateway to the surrounding gardens.

As with the Paracelsus Baths, the main entrance is placed on a newly formed public square at the corner of Schwarzstraße and Auerspergstraße. This space provides not only access but also a generous forecourt, fostering interaction between the university, the city, and the neighboring bathhouse.

Interior Concept: Openness and Light

The interior is organized around a large central hall, flooded with natural light through overhead skylights. This vertical void stretches through multiple levels, linking the ground floor with the upper stories and becoming the social heart of the university. Designed to be open to the public, the ground floor strengthens UMAK’s role as a cultural institution embedded in the community, not just a facility for students and faculty.

The division of the building into two volumes enabled the architects to incorporate large-scale performance and practice spaces, each requiring distinct acoustic and spatial conditions. Rooms with exceptional ceiling heights—such as rehearsal halls and studios—are strategically positioned within the structure, while smaller classrooms and seminar spaces are arranged more compactly. This variety of scales and atmospheres supports the diverse programmatic needs of a modern art university.

A striking architectural feature is the cantilevered overhang of the upper floors above the entrance, which visually emphasizes the importance of the public square while also framing views toward the Paracelsus Baths. This interplay of volumes creates a dynamic urban gesture, situating UMAK as a contemporary civic landmark.

Façade and Materiality

The façade continues the architectural language established by the neighboring Paracelsus Bad & Kurhaus but adapts it for the specific needs of a music-focused institution. Both buildings employ ceramic cladding, ensuring visual continuity, but while the bathhouse used open ceramic slats, the UMAK façade employs a closed, rear-ventilated system. This approach provides greater acoustic insulation and allows for careful control of daylight and ventilation—critical considerations for rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and performance halls.

The façade integrates uniform window modules, each with built-in systems for sun and glare protection. Large rehearsal halls benefit from fixed ceramic slats that offer solar shading while preserving daylight access. Conversely, studios that require controlled lighting conditions maintain a more opaque façade expression. The result is a cohesive yet adaptable skin, responding to the varied functional requirements of an art university.

Generous glazing is introduced at the entrance and in the connection zones between the two building volumes, creating moments of transparency and openness that contrast with the solidity of the ceramic cladding. These glazed elements invite the city into the building while framing internal views outward, reinforcing the idea of UMAK as a cultural interface between Salzburg’s historic fabric and its contemporary identity.

Sustainability and Flexibility

Despite its technical and acoustic complexity, the UMAK was designed with an emphasis on flexibility and long-term sustainability. The compact building form contributes to an efficient energy balance, while the façade’s rear-ventilated ceramic cladding enhances thermal performance and durability. The planning strategy allows rooms to be adapted or reconfigured over time, ensuring the building can accommodate future shifts in pedagogy, technology, or programmatic needs.

By combining robust materiality, adaptable spatial organization, and energy-efficient construction, the project demonstrates how high-performance architecture can meet the exacting demands of a specialized institution while contributing positively to its urban environment.

A Bridge Between Past and Present

The UMAK Mozarteum University stands as a bridge between Salzburg’s historic parks, Baroque palaces, and modern city blocks, both literally and symbolically. Its careful urban placement, restrained material palette, and clear architectural language reflect a sensitivity to context, while its generous interiors and functional precision meet the aspirations of a globally recognized center for the arts.

Together with the Paracelsus Baths, the building signals a new architectural identity for Salzburg’s city center, one that embraces continuity yet speaks in a distinctly contemporary voice. UMAK is not only a place for study and performance but also a cultural landmark that enriches the city’s public life.

Photography: Ana Barros