LOISIUM - WORLD OF WINE
Tourist attraction / Brand Land, Langenlois, Austria, 4500 sq.m., 2003

Art Director and executing artist at Steiner Sarnen Swiss

In the context of the development programmes for the regions of the periphery of the European Union, a leadership signal could be set, in light of its Eastern expansion. In order to bring new life into the region, the Lower Austrian wine was given an exciting new home: The Loisium is a mix between museum and modern architecture, historic wine cellars and modern cellar technologies, story-telling machine and shopping opportunities, which, according to Californian star wine-journalist, Dr. Prof. Tim Patterson, is unique in the world.
The attractions start off with the Gaerdom, presenting the transformation of fruit juice into wine with a water game. Thereafter, guests wander through a historic wine cellar. Old barrels and traditional wine-making tools fit right in with the charming representation of Anton Loiskandl's winery. There, wine-maker culture and living conditions around 1920's are brought to life. Via historical press cellars, visitors enter into the cellar world. In the cellars of the Steininger winery, the modern production facilities invite us to take a trip through the present. The concluding mystical part of the underground hike, in which the wine god Bacchus, the grape goat and the loess are paid tribute to, reaches its end in the wonderful Basilica. In the hall in which the feast takes place, the meaning of wine in our life cycle is brought to consciousness. The underground trip ends in the impressive entrance building by Steven Holl. Here, guests find a wide-ranging and high quality wine selection from the whole region of Lower Austria.
In September 2005, in immediate proximity to the Loisium, the extraordinary hotel by Steven Holl (New York) was inaugurated.