Red Vienna

Topic of this work is the architecture of municipal buildings of the social housing program in 1920-1930 in Vienna. Special focus lies on an objective photographic perspective on the special architecture of the buildings providing home to more than 500.000 people, more than 25% of Vienna’s population across all social classes. Vienna is spearheading social housing across Europe since the early 1920ies when the first municipal buildings were built to provide minimum standards of living also to working class people. The lack of people and the choice of timing of the photographs during winter months supports the reflection of the inner silence of the courts. Moreover it reflects the increasing lack of empathy and social chill in our society. This silence stands in strong contrast to the outer surroundings of the municipal buildings which are mostly situated in densely populated areas with significant traffic and noise pollution. The use of large format enables an objective perspective on the buildings showing even smallest details like traces of the people living there.