A look at Vienna's hidden architecture: iron concrete and its time

A look at Vienna's hidden architecture: iron concrete and its time

Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Wien, Österreich - The special exhibition "Eisen concrete. Anatomy of a metropolis" will be opened in the Vienna Museum on May 22, 2025. It offers a deep insight into the inner structure of Vienna around 1900 and does not move into the limestone light, but the technical and architectural legacy of the iron concrete. The exhibition is curated by Andreas Nierhaus and Eva-Maria Orosz and is based on the research project "Anatomy of a metropolis" by Otto Kapfinger. With this exhibition, the meaning of the iron concrete, which revolutionized architecture at the beginning of the 20th century

iron concrete not only represented the basis for numerous modern cities, but also decisively shaped the cityscape of Vienna. The building material was used in the vaults of the Vienna River and in the ceilings of the light rail, as well as in factories as well as residential and commercial buildings. In the period around 1900, this technology changed city structures. Numerous actors in the construction system who came from the Jewish bourgeoisie contributed significantly to this change. The resulting buildings offered space for a variety of uses, including theater, cinemas, shops, offices and apartments.

A look at the architecture

The exhibition will present a variety of exhibits, including models, plans, photographs, paintings, posters and original equipment. Special attention applies both famous and less well -known iron concrete buildings in Vienna, for example the Zacherlhaus, the Looshaus, the Residence Palace and the Dianabad. These objects are not only witnesses of a dynamic era of architecture, but also central locations of modern city life.

The existing infrastructure made possible by iron concrete included water pipes, sewers and the light rail. These innovations contributed to the development of multifunctional buildings in which the city culture, new media and innovative construction technology combined.

a historical cut

However, the show also has a historical context. The First World War was a cut in the building and stopped the previously expansive cultural, social and technical development. The extensive collection and presentation of the exhibition should raise awareness of these conceptual and technical achievements.

The publication "Anatomy of a metropolis. Building with iron concrete in Vienna, 1890-1914" will also appear at Birkhäuser and is a valuable addition to the exhibition. Visitors can experience the exhibition until September 28, 2025 in the Vienna Museum, Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Vienna. Further information is available online on the website of the Wien Museum.

For a comprehensive perspective on this important era in Vienna's city history, the reports of creative Austria and and ots.at that offer additional insights and suggestions on the topic.