The Sun Sets on Vienna

The day started early enough as we made our way out to the Karl Marx-Hof which is a public housing complex completed by a student of Otto Wagner, Karl Ehn in 1930. It is one of the best examples of public housing in not just Vienna but anywhere. It is also just over a kilometer long making it the longest residential building in the world. We couldn't go inside because the apartments are private but I was able to read a lot from the exterior. There was a quite a bit of communist symbolism going on but it was still a well designed building.

Karl Marx-Hof

Our next stop was the Schemerlbrücke which is a bridge over the Danube Canal. It was designed by Otto Wagner and represents an entry into the city. It also contains a weir and lock to assist boats down the canal. We have learned quite a bit about this structure in the past and it was nice to see it. Also my impression of it was different than what I had seen in photographs. I thought it was more centrally located and was in a grander location. It was still a beautiful bridge and intricate structure though.

Schemerlbrücke

We drove into the heart of Vienna to Donau City where a United Nations building and Vienna's tallest skyscrapers are located. Here we went into the Donau City Church which is a Roman Catholic parish church completed in 2000 by Heinz Tesar. It was a small church with an all wood interior with circular windows of varying sizes all over. The exterior of course carried the windows through while being clad in black metal panels. It was sort of weird to have this small church in the middle of all these tall buildings but it felt nice.

Donau City Church

I was looking forward to this next stop since the previous day when we passed by them on the highway. This complex of buildings is called the Gasometers. They are four large coal gas containers that have since been closed down and repurposed for various needs. The exterior is original brick facade from 1899 while inside has been updated. Each gasometer is reflective of the architect that worked on it. The four architects are Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm Holzbauer. The program ranges from housing to shopping to restaurants and entertainment. It is such an experience to be in a building which so much character from old meets new. I really liked the idea behind these buildings and the execution was well done.

Gasometers

This stop is the one I have been waiting to see for a long time. This is the Postal Savings Bank completed by Otto Wagner in 1906. This a beautiful example of modern architecture. We could only see the main entry room and a small musuem dedicated to Wagner but it was worth it. He designed every detail in the main room. There is a glass ceiling that allows light to come through and down through the glass floor to the bookkeeping areas. There are gravity fed air vents of his own design that are so iconic. These building was everything I studied about and I was overjoyed to get to see it.

Postal Savings Bank

From there Hans led us on a walking tour through part of the city. We ended up in the major square of Stephansplatz at St. Stephen's Cathedral. It was originally done in the Romanesque style in 1160 but was eventually enlarged and added on to its current Gothic designation now. Across the street was the Haas House which a contrasting piece of modern architecture whose facade is completely reflective glass allowing the rest of the square to be seen.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

After the square, Hans let us go and some of us took a leisurely stroll back to the hotel passing by the Loos American Bar designed by Adolf Loos and through the Volksgarten park. We made it back to the hotel to meet Hans to go to dinner at Zum Martin Sepp. It was a pay by weight buffet place which was absolutely delicious. It was an enjoyable way to end my time in Vienna.

Rest in Peace Zaha Hadid. You were an inspiration to not just architects but to women as well. You always pushed the envelope and drove architecture to new heights. You were an innovator. It is so weird because just in January I saw her main office. And then two days ago I was in her building. The architecture world lost a bright mind too soon.