The Erdberger Mais area in Vienna's third district is currently one of the largest urban development zones in the city. BEHF Architects were commissioned to develop not only a masterplan for the area but also to create a high-quality residential tower. The remarkable HELIO Tower, a part of the three-tower residential high-rise project known as THE MARKS, stands as an exemplar of modern, comfortable housing within a dense urban environment.  

The HELIO Tower project was undertaken by BEHF Architects with great commitment over several years. BEHF, together with StudioVlayStreeruwitz and Georg Schwalm-Theiss, was invited to participate in the city's first collaborative project coordinated by the City of Vienna. Together, they crafted a masterplan for the Franzosengraben area, situated between the South-East tangent of the A23 city motorway and the Gasometer. Through collaboration with highly qualified partners and stakeholders, the unique qualities of this sensitive and challenging location were nurtured and refined through various phases.  

Today, the Erdberger Mais area is blossoming into a vibrant residential quarter, featuring a diverse range of building projects. At its heart lie the attractive three residential towers, THE MARKS. These remarkable towers, soaring above Vienna's skyline, not only transform the city's appearance but also offer a lively public square and a series of green spaces, including a ground-level park. They stand atop a plinth, serving as a connecting element that provides a dynamic mix of spaces for gatherings, leisure, training, and shopping. Above this plinth, the high-rise apartment buildings take their place.  

A delicate metal frame encloses the square and forms a continuous arcade, offering 2,400 parking spaces for bicycles and serving as a connecting element for the three building components. The rooftop is designed as a running track. Beyond addressing space constraints, the arcade makes a significant contribution to promoting environmentally friendly mobility in metropolitan areas.  

BEHF’s HELIO Tower, whose name is inspired by the Greek sun god, presents itself as a tall, slender structure wrapped in glass and framed with colored concrete grids. It comprises 34 above-ground floors, subdivided into a three-story base structure, a set-back intermediate floor, and regular tower floors. With 401 apartments ranging from one to four rooms, the building provides a modern and comfortable living space designed to accommodate a variety of living concepts and needs, making it suitable for every stage of life.  

Well-lit rooms and floor plans that optimize space usage characterize the apartments. An operable double glass façade creates outdoor spaces protected from the wind, usable year-round without any complications. All apartments offer spacious glazed loggias and balconies, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the nearby Prater, the Danube Canal, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and even the Leitha Mountains to the east.  

The three-story lobby stands out for its extravagant interior: green marble walls, mailboxes made of nutwood, and a sea of green plants along the windows. The centerpiece is a curved wooden staircase that leads to the third floor. Furthermore, Viennese artist Anouk Lamm Anouk has created an installation that enriches the spacious entrance hall.  

The sustainability aspect plays an important role in the project: The building has a highly effective cooling system, district heating, and 27 e-charging stations in the three-story underground car park. There are green open spaces, including on the roof of the base building and the running track on the roof of the bicycle arcade.