Mayr-Melnhof Palace

The building Elisabethstraße 30, home to Literaturhaus Graz, was once the city palace of the Mayr-Melnhof family and was built in 1852. In 1894/95, alterations were made according to the plans of August Gunolt. The facade is designed in the late historicist Neo-Baroque style. It was created by Rudolf Vital. Neo-Régence stucco decoration has been preserved in the interior rooms.

From 1966 to 2000, it was used as the Graz Cultural Center (from 1972 to 2000 under the direction of Otto Breicha). For its reopening on May 7, 2003, the building was completely renovated by the Graz architectural firm Riegler Riewe (Florian Riegler and Roger Riewe) and extended with an annex on the courtyard side. This houses the large event hall of Literaturhaus Graz, as well as the "Orange" café. The latter is not to be considered a "literary café" in the strict sense; especially the evening bar operation, together with the traditional "Kulturhauskeller" in the same building, attracts a large student audience that tends not to mix with the Literaturhaus guests.