OFID Headquarters

OFID Central Atrium

A Brief History

 Download the full English version [1.33 MB].

 Download the full German version [681 KB].

The OFID headquarters building (located in Vienna's 1st district, Parkring 8) was the residential palace of the Austrian Archduke Wilhelm Franz Karl. Built between the years 1864-68 to the architectural design of Theophil von Hansen* (1813-1891), the palace was sold to the German Order of Knights in 1870 and used as headquarters of the Grand Master, the last of whom was Archduke Eugen.

From 1894, it served as the palace of both the Grand and German Masters, acquiring the name, Palais Deutschmeister. In 1938, following the dissolution of the German Order of Knights, the building was seized by National Socialist (Nazi) Germany and, in 1942, handed over to the police authorities. Between 1945-1975 it served as headquarters of the Vienna police. After an interregnum, it became the property of OFID. **

OFID Conference Room

The palace (built in the Italian renaissance-style and still often referred to among the Viennese as Palais Deutschmeister) is perhaps the most significant and, possibly, the most impressive of all the palaces on the Ringstrasse. The five-story building, which has meanwhile been declared a national monument, has a central atrium that extends to the roof, a cellar, three main floors and side-sections that span four floors.

The dominant second (bel étage) floor is of an imposing height, with richly decorated festive rooms, including a huge ceremonial hall. The main support columns are prominent. An impressive staircase leads up to the second floor.

Other remarkable features are the enormous glass roof and a stable built to accommodate 24 horses with ten fluted and polished columns made out of the same quality marble used for the halls.

Equally striking are the decorative Heralds situated between the windows of the attic and the Austrian Archduke's coat of arms placed on the balustrade over the highest windowsill. The decorative sculptural works are by Johann Hutterer.

* Architect Theophil Hansen was born June 13, 1813 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He died February 17, 1891 in Vienna. He was awarded the title of Baron in 1884. After his education in Denmark, Hansen traveled through Germany and spent eight years in Athens where he lectured at the Polytechnic School. In 1842, his first buildings were erected in Greece. In 1846, he started working with his father-in-law, Mr. Foerster, in Vienna where their first jointly designed buildings were constructed. Mr. Hansen was one of the most famous architects of his time.

** Following purchase by OFID in 1981, planning and supervision of renovation works were entrusted to Prof. Georg Lippert. Rooms of the bel étage now constitute the Fund's conference rooms and Management offices; the other three floors were converted into modern offices. All necessary technical requirements of a modern office building were introduced in a way, which ensured that the façade of the building, its courtyard and the bel étage maintained their original magnificent style. The Fund moved to the new premises in December 1982.