And here I was, feeling all snappy confident on my second Gemeindebau outing. I did a little research and prepared a map of locations to pursue with my camera, but was foiled by a Russian grocer and my heavy grocery bag; a stamp and coin shop (The Tween collects certain coins); and a used record store (The Teenager is into vinyl) among other interesting sights, and thus lost track of where I saw most of what I saw. Something tells me this is how it will be.
One of my first photos coming up from the U-Bahn. This large complex is the Heizmann Hof, so named for a locksmith and member of the resistance who was sent to, and executed in, the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. The courtyard gates deter one from prying into the courtyard of those residing in the buildings, and rightly so.
Down the street, a spirited mosaic on a building whose location I neglected to record, a recurring theme on this outing.
A turn down Ybbstraße revealed a construction from 1927.
With another foreboding gate. And then I looked up to find whimsical reliefs of plants and animals.
More 1920’s construction with Art Deco features.
Though I noted the location, I could find no information on the striking art that frames the corner of this building.
Graffiti was everywhere. Really, people?
“Oh,” I thought. “This is so dreadfully utilitarian. The slight hint of blue in the balconies (or stairwells?) does not help this poor building’s cause.” I became even more sad when I read the building’s name: Chopin Hof. Yes, a lyrically mute building so named for a great Polish composer. Did someone in the Gemeindebau Naming Department not like great classical music?
A relatively recent construction, dating from 1985. Equally as mute as Chopin Hof.
This is not Kunst am Bau, but rather, a commemoration of the battle to defend Vienna from the Turkish invasion in 1683.
I would not have rated this art a finalist in the Post-War Reconstruction Aesthetics Competition.
This one, though, is more to my liking.
My favorite mosaic of the outing, but the history of this striking piece remains a mystery to me.
By no means do I consider my outing to be a failure. Not at all. If anything, I am further inspired to continue wandering Vienna’s streets.
November 20, 2013 at 21:32
So you have been to my hood… I'm living right next to the Heizmann Hof…
November 20, 2013 at 23:19
Vienna is truly full of amazing sights.
November 21, 2013 at 12:30
Hi Victoria, maybe I'm able to help you out with the meaning of the last mosaic.
It simply represents the “Prater-Hauptallee” through the ages – there are the chestnut
trees, the historical buildings in the background ( Lusthaus, Riesenrad, 2. Kaffeehaus,
destroyed in WWII, and the Rotunde, a large exhibition hall equally destroyed by fire ( 1937 ). In the foreground one couple of Biedermeier people, a big carriage
of rich citizens of the belle-époque, representing the “Praterkorso” and at the
right, a young couple of the 50's with their characteristic Vespa. Quite a
panoramic compostition.
Kind regards reo
November 21, 2013 at 13:26
Vreni, I rather enjoy your hood, and plan to return. 🙂
November 21, 2013 at 13:26
From what I've seen so far, I can not disagree with that sentiment. Something tells me, though, that I will fall short of seeing them all while I am here.
November 21, 2013 at 13:29
To the rescue once again, reo. I tried to find this location in the Gemeindebau database but with no success. Perhaps it was a rogue artist? 😉
November 21, 2013 at 16:26
Well , maybe this wasn't on a “Gemeindebau”. Gemeindebau means social
housing for rent. After WWII there was another housing model for
middle class families with better wages and some money in the bank,
called “Eigentumswohnung”. You had to pay a considerable entrance
fee to get long term credit lines, often 40 or even 50 years. Having
paid all that, the flat was ( is ) your's. They symbol is the bee-hive you
shot (“Freunde des Wohnungseigentums”). As postwar architects
worked for both types, it's sometimes hard to distinguish
which is what ( Pardon my english..). You have to look at the inscriptions because ” Kunst am Bau” was imposed on every single project.
November 23, 2013 at 05:34
reo, thank you for adding a new level of “research” to my outings!