RHEINZINK – a material that tells stories
The Stögmüller fashion house
Gmunden – the town on Lake Traunsee in the Salzkammergut region – boasts a beautiful panorama, mountain scenery and the fourth largest lake in Austria. The city centre is also worth seeing. Located directly on the northern shore of Lake Traunsee, it invites you to spend warm summer evenings on the esplanade or to go on a shopping spree. In addition to the well-known Gmundener Keramik Manufaktur, there is also plenty to choose from for fashion enthusiasts. The history of the Stögmüller fashion house, which underwent a modernisation in 2022, begins in 1898. Now, the elegant look of a RHEINZINK façade graces the idyllic town on Lake Traunsee.
A family history
The Stögmüller fashion house has an impressive family history spanning more than 120 years. Founded in 1898, it all began as a small grocery store. Over time, the range was expanded to include various fabrics and sewing accessories, until finally, in 1946, women's, men's and children's fashion was added. In 1981, Josef II and his wife Felicitas built the first Stögmüller fashion house with the support of the Swiss architect DI Waller. The shop quickly became known beyond the region. The fourth generation, Helmut Stögmüller, took over the management of the family business after his training in the Black Forest. He brought a breath of fresh air into the business by bringing international fashion brands and current trends to Gmunden. With his passion for architecture and fashion, the managing director repeatedly set new trends. The fashion house was continuously expanded. He created a unique shopping experience together with his wife Christa.
A façade with character
In an interview with RHEINZINK, Helmut Stögmüller explains the reasons for choosing titanium zinc as the material and the challenges associated with the modernisation. The decision in favour of the RHEINZINK titanium zinc façade was based on the positive experiences and recommendations of the architects in charge of the project. They had already produced good results with RHEINZINK on other construction projects and appreciated its robustness. ‘Our architects were looking for a ‘hard’ façade that was not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing,’ explains Helmut Stögmüller.
For him, the unique surface of titanium zinc played a crucial role: “The interesting thing about this material is that it develops a patina over time. The surface changes and thus tells a story. This fits perfectly with our fashion house, which itself looks back on a long tradition.” The choice of material also made sense for sustainability reasons.
Why RHEINZINK-prePATINA ECO ZINC?
Small CO2 footprint, 100% recyclable, extremely durable, low-to-no-maintenance -
making it the perfect future building material for sustainable construction.
Tradition meets innovation
Refurbishing the fashion store presented a number of challenges. “Time especially was a critical factor,” says Helmut Stögmüller. Proud of the end result, he says: “My personal favourite is the square-tile façade that extends to the neighbouring property on Bahnhofstrasse. It gives the building a distinctive character while still blending harmoniously into the overall picture.”
Thanks to the careful selection of materials and the skilful implementation, the Stögmüller fashion house is not only a modern shopping destination, but also an example of the successful architectural integration of tradition and innovation.
Sources:
Architect: DI Heider
Interior designer: DI Hubertus Buchegger
Facade craftsmen: Helmut Zandonella GmbH
Interior craftsman: Andreas Köstner
Photos: Cornelia Suhan
Copyright: RHEINZINK
You are on our global website.
Would you like to stay on rheinzink.com or visit the local RHEINZINK America website?