Modern Architecture in Vienna

Viennese architecture of the turn of the nineteenth century is unique in the world: in an atmosphere of all-embracing creativity, Otto Wagner built his Post Office Savings Bank, the revolutionary Steinhof Church, and the stations of the Vienna City Train; his pupil Joseph Maria Olbrich created the Vienna Secession with its imposing golden cupola; and Adolf Loos created a provocation with his austere House at Michaeler Platz, opposite the Imperial Palace.

After the First World War, the new social-democratic city administration aimed to combat the housing shortage for poor people with "super blocks" and wanted to establish a new culture of daily life. The most famous of these building complexes is the Karl Marx Hof. Examples for the architecture of the modern era in Vienna include the Wittgenstein House, a mansion that the philosopher built for his sister, and the Werkbundsiedlung (1934) initiated by Loos's pupil Josef Frank.

Austro-Fascism of the 1930s ended the development of modern architecture in Vienna. And under Hitler an entire generation of talented architects and innovative developers were driven out of the country. Hitler hated Vienna, which meant that the Nazi era would leave few architectural footprints. Six Flaktürme (anti-aircraft towers) still exist as a reminder of the war.

• From the Austrian Phenomenon to the Twin Towers
• Spectacular structures of “Nobel Prize” winners in Vienna
• Modern Architecture Close Up - with TopTours
• Architecture Center Vienna
  
• a_schau - Austrian Architecture
• www.azw.at