Database extract: Company profile

Company Profile

Name: Architektenbüro Best Architects

Head: Jürgen Thalheimer, Chief Architect

Staff: 43 employees — interdisciplinary team of design architects, project managers, execution planners, model makers, and visualizers

Offices: Headquarters in Vienna; project offices in Hamburg and Venice

Core Competencies: Historically school and hospital projects; currently opera houses and other high‑profile, prestigious buildings

Reputation: Known for precise detailing, a clear formal language, and a taste for grandeur

Mission: Create extraordinary places for extraordinary situations and people

Selected Competition Wins

2016 — School, Vienna Open realization competition; compact, light‑filled school with a flexible spatial concept; Jury: Dr. Eva Koller; Prof. Markus Leitner; Ing. Sabine Huber.

2018 — Neustadt Library Architecture award for public buildings; sensitive extension of historic fabric; Jury: Prof. Anna Riedl; Univ.-Prof. Karl Novak; Ing. Petra Lang.

2020 — Two‑Towers Opera House, Venice (favorite project of Jürgen Thalheimer) 1st place among 51 entries; 2nd: Hoch‑ und Tiefbau Prinz; 3rd: Città Bella. Jury: Prof. Arch. Lucia Romano; Ing. Marco Bellini; Dr. Elena Ferraro; Arch. Paolo Moretti; Mag. Sofia Greco.

2020 — Quartiersplatz Süd Urban design competition; redesign of a central square to increase public quality; Jury: Prof. Ingrid Maier; Dr. Stefan Wolf; Arch. Nora Weiss.

2022 — Old Town Cultural Center Cultural buildings competition; conversion of an industrial hall into a flexible cultural venue; Jury: Dr. Roland Kurz; Arch. Sabine Eder; Mag. Lukas Brand.

2026 — New Town Hall, Venice Final of the Venice competition; Jury: Dr. Vitale Milano; Arch. Paolo Moretti; Ing. Mio Maldini; Mag. Sofia Bellavue‑Greco; Dr. Esther Mayers.

Private and Project Notes

Private: Jürgen Thalheimer maintains a second residence in Venice, a villa he restored with great care. In the neighborhood of his house he renovated a formerly dilapidated block and transformed it into showcase residences. Related Project: Mr. Bellavue’s project has become one of the most popular residential developments in Venice.

Network and Partnerships

Network Reach: Extensive contacts across Austria, Germany, and Italy. Typical Partners: Collaborations and professional ties with regional firms, competition juries, and development stakeholders.