The historic Waffensaal, also known as Steyrwerke management building, which opened in 1915, has been vacant for several years before prominent chef Lukas Kapeller turned it into a restaurant, small boutique hotel and a family retreat. The building that once hosted the now broken-up conglomerate features living quarters for the extended family. Two apartments on either side of a vast staircase provide enough space for four living and office spaces. With little effort, these units could be turned into more open, barrier-free spaces.
Kapeller Hotel and Restaurant
A small boutique hotel is situated in the high attic, hosting five rooms for guests and a Lukas Kapeller restaurant. The refurbishment conducted by Hertl.Architekten’s lead designer, Gernot Hertl, preserved and replaced the old beams with modern wooden construction. The sustainability approach repurposed the old roof tiles in the new design. The wooden staircases at the end will lead visitors to the reception, which spans skyward. From the top of the stairs, visitors and guests can oversee a small atrium next to the ground floor entrance. The corridor leading to the rooms can be accessed from one side, while the other side will bring you directly to the Michelin-starred restaurant.
The view from the rooms spans across a stunning vegetation and the amazing nature of a small hill in the heart of Seyr, Austria. The corridors are designed in elegant surfaces that reduce the sounds coming to the room, allowing the visitors to unwind among the relaxing greenery. Wood beams dominate the restaurant, which is known for using regional and seasonal ingredients. Large windows allow the customers to enjoy the local scenery while they eat. Black tones were selected for the background, not to take the focus away from people and culinary specialities. The ventilation is secluded by a large plant hanging from the gallery above the kitchen. The design of Hotel Kapeller has taken 1st place in the Architectural Design Restaurant – Fine Dining category at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2025.
Award-winning company from Steyr, Austria
Hertl.Architekten is an architecture firm founded by Gernot Hertl in Steyr, Austria. For over a quarter of a century, the company has designed hospitality, office, and public buildings in the country and abroad. Their designs come from a process of connecting the inner beauty, such as the essence of things, with the outer beauty, which is the measure of things. Hertl.Architekten’s work has been recognised and awarded by numerous industry experts. Some of the main awards include Archello Residental Tower of the Year, the nomination for EUmies Awards, the first place for Pontlatz Barracks at expressiv.at and 2nd prize for the municipal office in Radegund, to name a few. A book entitled Space & Texture, edited by Matthias Boeckl, presents Hertl.Architekten’s oeuvre is presented in five different chapters, each dealing with one atmospheric theme prominent in the company’s work.
Photo Credit: Faruk Pinjo, Tschinkersten
