Das halbrunde Zimmer

linke wienzeile // wien mariahilf

rudolf-krammer-hof

municipal building in vienna keeps producing little architectural gems. here, this complex on the vienna river. the staggered loggias on the façade ensure that each flat gets enough light and that the house does not look boring but stands out from the rest. what is not visible is that the complex has a green inner courtyard so that the residents have a quiet place, despite the location on a busy street.

completion: 1983

architects: franz kiener, manfred schuster

wohnpark alterlaa // wien liesing

II

this post and the next one are about views in and through the alterlaa complex. the site is not flat as one might think from aerial views but consists of several levels in the path structure. the parks are also slightly hilly and winding, which always makes for exciting views and insights.

construction time: 1973-1985

architects: harry glück, requat & reinthaller & partner

wohnpark alterlaa // wien liesing

I

now she begins the series on alt-erlaa. i spent a whole day in the complex. however, there is still so much to discover, especially in the buildings when you read the descriptions of how they are designed and furnished.  i approached from further away to understand the dimensions of the complex and then set about discovering and documenting the details.

construction time: 1973-1985

architects: harry glück, requat & reinthaller & partner

wohnpark alterlaa // wien liesing

the large housing estate alt-erlaa is a fascinating complex. you might think that such a settlement for 9,000 people should be barren and dreary, but that is exactly the opposite here. it is so green that you sometimes feel like you are in a forest or park. the blocks are so overgrown with green balconies that you wonder if the people have already disappeared and nature has taken everything back. this impression was also due to the fact that i encountered relatively few people except in the shopping arcade, even though it was the middle of the day. the blocks house a complete infrastructure with rooftop pools, swimming pools, solariums, saunas and indoor playgrounds, as well as the aforementioned shopping mall, which has a complete range of services. pavilion buildings with doctors, kindergarten and so on round off the offer.

construction time: 1973-1985

architects: harry glück, requat & reinthaller & partner, 

doors & gates // vienna

1. tandelmarktgasse // leopoldstadt

2. tandelmarktgasse // leopoldstadt

3. gerigasse // fasanviertel

4. rotensterngasse // leopoldstadt

5. schwemmgasse // leopoldstadt

doors and gates, so diverse also the design over time. from representative to reduced to pure function or changed in function over time. you can see this well in the last picture. the representative entrance door, whose wings are open at all times, has become a rubbish room, and the entire ground floor is now a garage.

mosaics // vienna

1.-3. access to the matzleinsdorfer platz station (1969)

4.-5. rotenkreuzgasse 

mosaics are one of the oldest design tools in architecture. in the decades after the second world war, this design reached a tremendous climax, so that one frequently encounters them in post-war modern buildings, provided they have not been chipped off in recent years or have disappeared under insulation material. here are abstract examples from vienna that are also very well preserved.

central station // vienna

wien-panorama mit verkehrslinien

artist: rudolf hausner 1959

i owe the discovery of this wall mosaic to a follower of my instragram account. many thanks for the inspiration franz hammerbacher. the mosaic itself is only a copy, the original exists but has since been hidden in the walls of the opposite platform due to renovations.

art in architecture // wien leopoldstadt

II

part 2 of art in architecture in leopoldstadt, vienna. and again a mix of modern and traditional formal language, executed as sculpture, mosaic or sgraffito. sometimes the artworks refer to biblical themes (weintraubengasse), local handicrafts (große pfarrgasse) or history, such as former buildings or residents (rotensterngasse & czerniengasse).

1. weintraubengasse artist: f. barzig, d.j.

2. zirkusgasse

3. rotensterngasse

4. große pfarrgasse

5. czerniengasse (completion 1962) artist: k.drexler

franzensbrückenstraße // wien leopoldstadt

opposite my accommodation in vienna were hephaistos and the herons. except for the artworks, the residential buildings are completely unadorned and you could also miss the art as you walk by. that's why it's always so nice to discover something.

herons by eva mazzucco 1967