#Multifunctional building #Vienna (Wien) #Austria #1937
Heinrich Schmid, Hermann Aichinger
Operngasse 18, 20, 20A; Rechte Wienzeile 1, 1A
1040
Vienna (Wien),
Austria
Public transport: Karlsplatz
Today's use: Apartments and shops
Description
A house that expresses the character of a big city. By its height with eight storeys and the pointed shape on two streets, makes it appear to grow upwards. The location in Vienna is not peripheral, but central. The top of the building faces Karlsplatz, a large and important square in the city. To the right of the building, the street Rechte Wienzeile leads to the Naschmarkt. This long boulevard was created at the end of the 19th century after the river Wienfluss was regulated and the underground was built. The "Bärenmühle" is therefore located at an important crossroads for this part of Vienna.
The building's pointed corner leaves the greatest impression of modernity. Ribbon windows give the building a light and spacious effect. This area is framed in natural stone and, at eight storeys, is the highest area. The two long facades along the streets are one storey lower and have a perforated facade for the windows. The ground floor accommodates shops and a passageway.
A sculpture on the facade at the street Operngasse depicting a scene, according to a legend, why the previous building was called "Bärenmühle". People fought with a bear, which they killed with their combined strength.
Description
A house that expresses the character of a big city. By its height with eight storeys and the pointed shape on two streets, makes it appear to grow upwards. The location in Vienna is not peripheral, but central. The top of the building faces Karlsplatz, a large and important square in the city. To the right of the building, the street Rechte Wienzeile leads to the Naschmarkt. This long boulevard was created at the end of the 19th century after the river Wienfluss was regulated and the underground was built. The "Bärenmühle" is therefore located at an important crossroads for this part of Vienna.
The building's pointed corner leaves the greatest impression of modernity. Ribbon windows give the building a light and spacious effect. This area is framed in natural stone and, at eight storeys, is the highest area. The two long facades along the streets are one storey lower and have a perforated facade for the windows. The ground floor accommodates shops and a passageway.
A sculpture on the facade at the street Operngasse depicting a scene, according to a legend, why the previous building was called "Bärenmühle". People fought with a bear, which they killed with their combined strength.
History
The special name of the house is due to the fact that a mill called Bärenmühle stood here until this house was built. It was named after a neighbouring inn called ‘Zum schwarzen Bären’. The mill was demolished in 1930 and this residential and commercial building was built in its place between 1937 and 1938.
This house is part of the ‘Assanierung’ programme. Between 1934 and 1938, many old buildings in Vienna were demolished and replaced by new buildings using funds. That was also used to repair older buildings. In 1938, a large protest began to take place, which also brought the programme to an end.
On 12 March 1938, Austria was incorporated into the German Reich, known as ‘Anschluss’. This changed the requirements for architecture. By 1937, residential buildings in Germany were no longer built in this way. By the time, the house was completed in 1938, Austria had already been occupied by Germany. It was probably one of the last houses in Austria to be built according to the principles of classical modernism. These included a flat roof, large windows and a reasonably simple facade.
History
The special name of the house is due to the fact that a mill called Bärenmühle stood here until this house was built. It was named after a neighbouring inn called ‘Zum schwarzen Bären’. The mill was demolished in 1930 and this residential and commercial building was built in its place between 1937 and 1938.
This house is part of the ‘Assanierung’ programme. Between 1934 and 1938, many old buildings in Vienna were demolished and replaced by new buildings using funds. That was also used to repair older buildings. In 1938, a large protest began to take place, which also brought the programme to an end.
On 12 March 1938, Austria was incorporated into the German Reich, known as ‘Anschluss’. This changed the requirements for architecture. By 1937, residential buildings in Germany were no longer built in this way. By the time, the house was completed in 1938, Austria had already been occupied by Germany. It was probably one of the last houses in Austria to be built according to the principles of classical modernism. These included a flat roof, large windows and a reasonably simple facade.
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