Gruenes Haus (Green House), Bregenz

The Grünes Haus is a protected government building designed by Vorarlberg architect Willibald Braun and completed in 1926. It has served public administration from the beginning and continues to house departments of the Vorarlberg State Government. The building is officially listed as a historic monument (ObjektID 17675). Its name comes from the green colour of its façade, which makes it easy to recognize among nearby institutional buildings.

Architecturally, the structure reflects a transition in early twentieth-century public design. In official records, it is described as Neoclassical, yet it is also closely linked to the regional Heimatschutzstil, a traditionalist style common in the interwar period. The four-storey façade is symmetrical, with Ionic semi-columns, a balcony on the main floor, and a triangular gable. A 1923 mosaic by Joseph Huber-Feldkirch decorates the gable, while the overall design keeps clear classical elements without heavy ornament.

Today, the Green House remains part of the provincial government complex, with offices connected to agriculture, forestry, and environmental protection. The interior is not generally open to visitors, but the exterior offers a clear example of how public architecture in the 1920s balanced classical form, regional identity, and modern administrative needs.