Haas House, Vienna

Imagine being asked to build a shiny, modern building right across from the Gothic grandeur of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral—the architectural equivalent of dancing next to a brooding vampire in neon sneakers. That’s exactly what the city of Vienna asked of Hans Hollein, Austria’s Postmodernist maestro known for his dazzling, no-compromise jewelry stores on the elegant Graben and Kohlmarkt streets. His answer was the Haas Haus, unveiled in 1990 like a mirror-polished shrug at tradition.

This gleaming, partly mirrored marvel made of glass, steel, and blue-green marble doesn’t just sit across from the cathedral—it poses across from it. Its curves lean confidently into the street, reflecting the spires opposite like a futuristic wink at the past. The design is all pleasing asymmetry: lopsided marble cubes glued to the façade like sculptural confetti, a mysterious platform high up that looks like a diving board for very brave architects, and even a Zen-like bridge inside for those who seek inner peace between shops and lattes.

Rather than bowing to the stiff collar of Historicism or charging ahead with cold Modernism, Hollein delivered something smarter: a stylish peace treaty between eras. Haas Haus respects its Gothic neighbor by daring to be different, yet harmonizing through reflection—literally.

Inside, the building is more than a pretty face. It houses a collection of cafes, chic shops, a fine restaurant, and the upscale DO & CO Hotel, where the views are as premium as the service.

Pro tip: Take the elevator to the rooftop café and savor the spectacular view of Saint Stephen’s while sipping your coffee like an enlightened time traveler.

Or if you're feeling more tea than tech, stroll over to the nearby HAAS & HAAS Teahouse, tucked just beside the Cathedral. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm (and a touch sleepier on Sundays and holidays), it’s the perfect blend of Old World charm and steeped serenity.

Because in Vienna, even the contrasts know how to get along...