Althofenstraße - Salzburg, Austria

Located in Lehen, a northern district of Salzburg, stands a modest residential highrise on Althofenstraße, designed by Gerhard Garstenauer. It's a strong example of postwar Brutalism: constructed in raw concrete, the building prioritizes structure, weight, and repetition over ornament. Its design follows Brutalism’s core idea… architecture as a visible, functional part of daily life, with details like concrete planters and bike stands expressing this ethos. That raw honesty, however, has been dulled by a recent repainting, which added an unwelcome sheen and softened its original impact.

The form remains stark yet intentional…open balconies, rigid vertical lines, and a heavy presence that contrasts sharply with Salzburg’s more decorative, historic surroundings.