How to build Austria's most beautiful pharmacy

"The pharmacy landscape is changing," Knut Palten states. And he speaks from experience. In 2018, he took over the Mariahilf Pharmacy in Weiz, which had fallen into insolvency. The city's infrastructure had changed, and the old location no longer worked. Palten decided it was time to create something new—anew home for the Steirer Apotheke. He had a clear vision: to build a pharmacy like Weiz had never seen before. "The vision was to create a space where tradition meets modernity—chic design combined with cozy warmth and comfort," says Palten. It was important to him that the space radiated a sense of comfort and well-being—not only for customers but also for himself and his team, who spend at least eight hours a day there.

The focus on comfort is not just about aesthetics—it is also a business decision."Simply dispensing prescriptions is no longer enough for pharmacies,"explains Palten. "The future lies in the service sector." He is convinced this will become even clearer in the next 30 years. For this reason, the new building had to be "social," as Palten describes it."Everyone should feel welcome—whether they are coming straight from the construction site in work clothes or in a suit and tie." About a third of the entire construction budget went into the interior design. When Palten's bank’s risk manager saw the plans, he joked, "Are you setting up a castle?" While it may not be a chalet, it does evoke a sense of alpine luxury. Modern mountain aesthetics were a deliberate inspiration. For Palten, an avid skier and mountaineer, this choice made him feel right at home.

Wood, metal, stone, and glass dominate the design. The rooms are high, bright, and welcoming. A lighting designer was brought on board to create the perfect ambiance. The untreated solid oak floors provide both a visual foundation and a feeling of spaciousness. Knut Palten worked closely with the team at Josef Göbel—Jürgen Kalcher took charge of the design, while his brother Wolfgang managed the project—to bring his vision for the pharmacy to life. "The biggest mistake I almost made, which Jürgen (Kalcher) saved me from, was the positioning of the pharmacy robot. He convinced me to rotate it by 90 degrees, and he was absolutely right," Palten recalls with a smile. Thanks to such meticulous attention to detail, the Steirer Apotheke in Weiz—located at Hans Sutter Gasse 1—not only became a pharmacy with a bright future but also earned the title of "Austria's Most Beautiful New Pharmacy" shortly after its opening in 2020. "For me personally and for my employees, that recognition was clear from the start," says Palten proudly.