The Provostry of St. Gerold lies on a small plateau on the southern slope of the Walsertal and is rooted in the Benedictine heritage. Over the past 1,000 years, the original hermitage has grown into a multifaceted architectural ensemble. In recent decades it has been expanded and revitalized with high quality standards and careful guidance by HK-Architekten. The now complex structure and the sometimes high number of visitors require a wayfinding system for basic orientation.Atelier Andrea Gassner created a rather restrained signage concept, fully aware that the key lies not in visual loudness but in appropriateness, recognizability, and logical placement within the cartography of paths and decision points. A core element of orientation is the archway that marks the main entrance in a welcoming way, along with a stele placed in the center of the courtyard directing visitors to various locations and offerings.The cross – as the central symbol of Christianity – forms the constructive base module for steles, posts, and wall elements. The legendary Provostry emblem – a delicate, linear abstraction of a mythical creature – served as the basis for the graphic design of the pictograms. These fulfill the important task of providing memorable, language-neutral communication.The designations are typeset in a contemporary serif typeface. The materials and color palette integrate with the architectural culture of the provostry: aluminum blocks, steel constructions, and anthracite and silver-colored surfaces. Beyond all pragmatic functions, the aim of this signage intervention is to inform quietly and helpfully while fostering identification with this special place.

The new Eugen Bolz Student Residence by Cukrowicz Nachbaur Architekten, set within the inner-city park landscape of Weingarten, creates generous visual connections to the surrounding greenery. The interplay of red tones on the façade echoes the chromatic variation of the different shades of green in the tree canopy.

The three dominant tree species in the park—oak, pine, and plane tree—were translated by Atelier Andrea Gassner into a new graphic sign system for the building’s wayfinding concept. They serve as both a conceptual and visual basis for dividing the building into its three wings. Bold, graphic icons derived from these forms are used as wayfinding elements and also function as an ornamental carpet design. Along the building’s 90-metre length, the custom-developed carpet pattern transforms in response to each section of the building, offering subtle orientation for the entrances to more than 180 rooms. This intuitive wayfinding system is contrasted with striking elements: both outdoors and in the foyer, colorful posters provide orientation and act as informative accents on site.

On the exterior, directly above the elevated, semi-open ground floor, a typographic “façade band” communicates the name of the residence and is interwoven with quotations from its namesake, Eugen Bolz.