The Habig-Hof
Perhaps some of our readers entered a coffee house one day and they were impressed. Some days ago, we felt that way. But let us start from the beginning. We have told you many stories about k.k. or k. u k. businesses (Imperial and Royal suppliers). Some of them were located in the city center. Others are located elsewhere. One such example is the Habig-Hof and the former hat manufacturer P&C Habig. P&C Habig k. u k. Hofhutfabrikanten.
Peter Habig established his hat company in 1867. His brother Carl joined him in 1871, therefore, P & C Habig. By 1870, the company had obtained the k. u k. title. As the company flourished, the Habig-Hof was built in 1896/1897 on Wiedner Haupstraße 15. It served as housing as well as a shop and manufacturing area for many years. P&C Habig was famous for making hats in different shapes and using various materials.
The high point of the company was in 1873 during the World Exhibition in Vienna. They received the award “hors concours Juror”. However, both world wars as well as changes in fashion had a negative impact on the company. This eventually led to the Habig-Hof changing ownership. The Habig-Hof is a large building one can’t miss. It has a beautiful entrance with a large staircase. Today, the Habig-Hof belongs to the Generali Foundation. What used to be a store, hosts an Aida Café. And this is what impressed us some days ago.
Once inside, one cannot avoid admiring the beautiful ceilings and the carefully crafted wooded frames along the walls. Although this is a Café, the presence of P&C Habig is felt in every meter of the place. One may have the feeling of being in a museum instead. Good news is that the Habig-Hof is part of the Tag des Denkmals on September 29th. There are tours where you can learn more about this beautiful place! (Cr)
The Tag des Denkmals is put together by the Austrian Federal Monuments Authority (Bundesdenkmalamt – BDA). The aim of the event is to make the public aware of the importance of cultural heritage and to raise awareness about heritage protection and monument preservation.
https://tagdesdenkmals.at/de/programm/wien/
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