a_show Stage 1

Starting in 2004 the Architekturzentrum Wien is to house a semi-permanent exhibition, a survey of Austrian architecture of the 20th and 21st century. The chronological succession of particular phases in the development of architecture is illustrated along a time axis. 10 thematic areas encourage visitors to delve further in specific places. Confronting historic contributions with contemporary projects is intended to sharpen the visitor’s understanding of architecture. Being a specific theme in Austrian architecture as well as being a theme relevant to visitors everyday lives, ‘Housing’ forms a focus running along the chronological progression.

The full range of media used for the presentation of architecture in the exhibition is presented appropriately: plans, sketches, texts, photographs, models and films bring the 20th century to life and lead us into the present. This exhibition is a long-term lively response by the Architekturzentrum Wien to its responsibility to teach and inform, in its role as Austria’s foremost institution for the mediation of architecture.

The Exhibition is to Open in 3 Acts:

Act 1: Opening 03.03.2004

Prologue/Heritage (Ringstrasse Historicism, The Protagonists of Modernism)
Time-tracks and films for the entire exhibition
Housing, pre-1960
Basic Architectural Framework (design of walking-chair Design Studio GmbH)

Closed 07-14.09.2004

The exhibition is being extended, phase 2 will open on Sept. 15.

Act 2: Opening September 15, 2004

Act 3: Opening in October 2005

The time-track continues to the present day with the generation of additional themes.

Curators: Gabriele Kaiser, Monika Platzer (project management)
Film Curator: Helmut Weihsmann
Research Assistants: Sonja Pisarik, Ute Waditschatka

Sponsors:
Geschäftsgruppe Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr
Bundeskanzleramt Sektion Kunst
Wien Kultur
Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur
UNIQA Versicherungen AG
Zumtobel Staff Österreich Vertriebs-GmbH

A few views of the exhibition “a_show Austrian Architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries” in the Az W´s New Hall, designed by WALKING-CHAIR Design Studio GmbH.

The exhibition
© Pez Hejduk

The exhibition
© Pez Hejduk

The exhibition
© Pez Hejduk

The exhibition
© Pez Hejduk