Established in 1995 by Armin Ebner, Susi Hasenauer and Stephan Ferenczy, BEHF Architects is an award-winning architectural office based in Vienna that has achieved international acclaim. Following the firm’s recognition as ‘Vienna’s Most Innovative Architectural Office’ in the 2019 Leading Designers programme, we spoke to BEHF’s Eva Jonas to find out more about their work, history and future.
“Whether in retail, rollout, centre, hospitality, residential or corporate architecture, we help our clients to achieve their goals, envision a better future and get there successfully.”
-Eva Jonas.
As one of Austria’s largest and more innovative architectural firms, BEHF Architects enjoys a distinguished reputation in the global design space. Perhaps most notable about their work is its ability to combine energy-saving, costeffective solutions that are truly tailored to the site, project and environment. But that certainly fails to encapsulate BEHF’s extraordinary work that always aims to be utterly client-centric and comprehensive, as Eva discusses in more detail.
“BEHF embraces diversity and has organised its team into project-specific groups, driven by passion to deliver the best service across global markets, timely and within budget agreements. We are an experienced team of architects, planners, interior designers and strategic minds, responsible for the overall project stages, from the initial strategy and start of the design through all planning phases and to completion.”
“BEHF sees design as strategy in action, focused on results. We help our clients to envision a better future and get there successfully. We help them leverage the power of design to generate innovative Solutions that result in real transformations.” - Armin Ebner, Co-Founder.
With over 120 employees, including architects, Urban Designers and Interior Designers, BEHF impresses through hard-earned experience and expertise – embracing a sort of chameleonic ability to cater to the needs of numerous sectors and fields. Eva uses the word “efficient”, and it’s easy to see when looking at the seamless completion of their projects. This really comes down to BEHF’s team dynamic and structure, which embraces collaboration even when working across borders and countries.
“BEHF’s international team thrives under the flat hierarchical structure, the highly interdisciplinary atmosphere and strong personal relations between the leadership and all employees. BEHF’s internal organisation has been set up for further growth and for large-scale and challenging projects.
In 2006, Franz Gruber was appointed Managing Director. The BEHF Board is closely supported by a confident, eager group of project directors. Diverse, skilled and motivated, we act in an intense network of proven national and international partners and consultants in completive branches. We work on projects of all scales and provide perfectly tailored solutions or a complete rollout strategy.”
Eva is keen to draw attention to several of the firm’s projects. Once again, the firm’s adaptability is evident, showing confidence regardless of the size, location or specifications of the project. From residential apartments and modern office complexes through to shopping malls, religious buildings and retail spaces. Each is markedly different to the next: some embrace classicism – all renaissance frescoes, satyrs and nymphs – while others relish in clean contemporary lines and minimalism. It’s a potent combination and speaks volumes for how BEHF Architects has managed to attain the pedigree that is has.
