A Jewel in Josefee

The three-story Kremplhof, located on a central yet quiet site in Leoben at the corner of Erzherzog Johann Street and Peter Tunner Street, has always been a building with class. Many eminent individuals have lived and worked at this address. Its atmosphere is truly something special, and architecturally it is a absolute treasure. Its façade, characteristic for the late Foundation Era, is richly intricate, with embellishments and stuccowork adorning the doorways and domed entrances. The crowning copper-clad dome can be seen from afar.

The Federal Office of Monuments is likewise convinced of the value of this historic jewel. It has been heritage protected since 1982 as a single building, and since 2008 as part of the 51 buildings that make up the Josefee Ensemble section of Leoben’s Foundation Era district. A plaque out front states the following: “The […] Kremplhof is the most impressive and well-maintained Foundation Era structure in Leoben.”

The Kremplhof is now 120 years old. Grand and time-honored, it stands proudly at the edge of the old town. However, after 120 years, it is time for some renovations. As its new owners, we aim to convert the 1,000 square meters of the empty Kremplhof building into outstanding offices and residential quarters — carefully and in close coordination with the Federal Office of Monuments. The heating, electrical wiring, windows, floors, and walls will all be brought up to the state-of-the-art so that the Kremplhof can stay the jewel that is always has been.

...a proud history

Did you know that the Kremplhof was originally a wedding present? It was a gift from Imperial Councilor Ludwig Krempl to the dowry of his daughter. The Leoben entrepreneur immortalized himself in the L-shape of the building. And his daughter showed her immense gratitude to “Father Krempl” by having a memorial stone with his likeness made and placing it in the large inner courtyard.

Built from 1894-1898 in the Josephsfeld city expansion area, formerly a cabbage field, this became Leoben’s largest rental residence. One hears that it was the first building in the region to have electric lighting, as well as the first with a telephone. “In Franz Joseph’s castle [Schönbrunn], they still use candles — but I turn!”, said Ludwig Krempl, expressing his delight in the turning of the light switches. He later began operation of the Krempl Power Plant, which supplied Leoben with power until the start of the new millennium, and was under family ownership from 1904 to 1994.

Numerous professors and visiting professors of the Montanuniversität Leoben rented from Krempl, including Richard Zsigmondy, who later became a Nobel Prize laureate, and Hans Höfer von Heimhalt, pioneer of drilling engineering and know today for coining the term Erdöl, in English “mineral oil”. Karl May, the author of the novel Winnetou, also stayed here. He and his wife Klara had breakfast here while passing through in October of 1904, and played billiards in the Café Styria, located on the ground floor at the time.

And so the Kremplhof stands majestically — today as then a treasure in Josefee — looking forward to its remodel and an equally illustrious future.