Hangar-7 was originally meant to be a garage for the steadily growing air fleet of Austrian entrepreneur and co-founder of Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz, located at the gates of Salzburg right by the airport. But architect Volkmar Burgstaller had bigger ideas and let his creativity take flight. Indeed, the imposing structure of steel and glass that took shape in 2003 actually looks like a wing. Hangar-7 has long since ceased to be simply a museum for Mateschitz’s impressive collection of historical airplanes, helicopters and Formula One race cars. Under the glass dome, art shows and glamorous events take place, a number of bars serve as a second living room to upscale Salzburgers, and the chefs of the restaurant Ikarus create the most audacious dishes for gourmets. Over 200,000 visitors come each year to Hangar-7, to marvel, to daydream or simply to drink an Americano.
In the Carpe Diem Lounge Café on the ground floor, visitors sip their Melange (an Austrian coffee specialty) while gazing directly out over the displayed aircrafts. Especially worth trying are the homemade cakes and Mehlspeisen (typical Austrian pastries). If you’re not a morning person, it’s still possible to breakfast in style here until 2 pm on the weekends.
The whole world watched spellbound on 14 October 2012 as Austrian extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner jumped from the stratosphere with a parachute. Baumgartner’s space capsule and protective suit – both sponsored by Red Bull – were on display in Hangar-7 as part of a temporary exhibition.
The architecture of the neighbouring Hangar-8 is no less avant-garde and is home to the historical airplanes of the Flying Bulls. However, Hangar-7’s little sister is not open to the public.
Stylish down to the smallest detail: In the Mayday Bar, guests sip exciting cocktail compositions perched on futuristic bar stools. In the evening, an ingenious lighting concept illuminates the bar in an atmospheric, cool blue.
One of the undeniable highlights of the exhibition is the Douglas DC-6B. The airplane was once the presidential vehicle of the Yugoslavian head of state Josip Broz Tito.
The sunlight hits the glass structure of the seemingly weightless building 1,754 times. That’s how many glass panels make up the overarching sky canopy. It’s hard to imagine that this aerial glass structure weighs almost 380 tonnes!
In the gourmet restaurant Ikarus, a different international star chef takes on the composition of the menu every month, such as the Slovenian top chef Ana Ros in April last year. There’s simply no time to get bored of the menu.
