![Engraving by Conrad Kreuzer [de] Conrad Kreuzer Palais Meran.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Conrad_Kreuzer_Palais_Meran.jpg/250px-Conrad_Kreuzer_Palais_Meran.jpg)
The Palais Meran is a palace in Graz, Styria, Austria. Built as a residence for Archduke John of Austria in 1843, it now serves as the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, surrounded by a public park.
The Palais Meran is a palace in Graz, Styria, Austria. Built as a residence for Archduke John of Austria in 1843, it now serves as the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, surrounded by a public park.
The Palais Meran was built from 1841 to 1843 by Georg Hauberrisser as the residence of Archduke John of Austria. [1] [2] Hauberrisser was not the architect as is evident from correspondence. Felix von Stregen played a role during stages of the building process; whether the Archduke himself conceived the facade and interior design is merely rumored. [3]
The Palais is surrounded by an extended park. The Duke died in the palace on 11 May 1859. [1] [4] The building was named after his son, Franz, Count of Meran, who gained this title in 1844. The family used the palace until 1939. [1]
An addition to the north was added in 1880, and the building was expanded again in 1939 and 1963. [2] Since 1963, the Steirischen Akademie für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (later the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz) has used all rooms of the facility [1] [5] in two halls for performances and rooms for institutes and administration. [1]
The Palais was built in late classicist style. [1] It features a wide facade. The wrought-iron lattice fixtures date back to the building time. The Archduke's coat of arms is shown in the gable. [2] The three-aisled vestibule has a square vault supported by pillars. The hall on the first floor features a scagliola wall structure and a wooden ceiling decorated with carvings and coats of arms. [5]
The building's exterior restoration, led by architect Ignaz Holub, was begun in 1976 and completed in 1979. Interior restoration was completed in 1985 with the Florentinersaal, a concert hall especially for chamber music. In another restoration from 2007 to 2008, modern requirements for fire protection were realised and the building made barrier-free. The facades were restored in a historically correct colour scheme. [6]
The park was opened to the public in 1982. Busts by Wolfgang Skala of Anton Bruckner and Franz Liszt were installed there in 1986. A bust of Hugo Wolf by Wilhelm Gösser was installed in 1988. Artworks include also sculptures designed by Katja Cruz to Alban Berg's Violin Concerto, Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron , and Anton Webern's Symphony. In 2019 the park was restored closer to its historic design. [6] [6]
