Palais Ofenheim

The Palais Ofenheim is a palace in Vienna's Innere Stadt, located at Schwarzenbergplatz 15 and displaying architectural elements characteristic of the Ringstrassen style from the late 19th century. The building combines residential spaces with original office areas in a structured arrangement typical of the generous architecture of that era.

The palace was commissioned in 1868 by railroad industrialist Victor Ofenheim and designed by architects August Schwendenwein and Johann Romano. The building originally served as both a residence and a rental property for other tenants.

The palace contains several formal rooms such as a ballroom, dining hall, winter garden, and Blue Salon that show how wealthy Viennese industrialists lived. These spaces reflect the refined lifestyle of a family that wanted to express their power and prosperity through their surroundings.

The building is protected as a historical monument and is currently used as office space by an insurance company while maintaining its historical exterior. Visitors should note that the interior is normally not publicly accessible since it operates as a working business building.

The ground floor originally housed the offices of the Lemberg-Czernowitz Railway, a major company where Victor Ofenheim served as general director. This early use shows how the family combined their business and private spaces under one roof.