10/2021

Small buildings of the city of Vienna

How can an insight into the universe of small buildings in Vienna be generated? How can their “significant trivialities” and their historical development be traced? How can their abundance, diversity, quality and relevance on the basis of a collection of approximately 70 existing passenger shelters, public lavatories and kiosks be demonstrated?

Claudia Lingenhöl

Diploma in Architecture

E251-2 – Denkmalpflege und Bauen im Bestand

Supervisor: Nott Caviezel

W01 Wartehalle Fasangasse W02 Wartehalle Kärntnerring W03 Wartehalle Schubertring K01 Würstelstand Gallitzinstraße K02 Eissalon Mölkersteig K03 Würstelstand Augartenbrücke B01 Eisen-Anstalt Wertheimsteinpark B02 Rechteckpissoir Streckerpark B03 Mauer-Anstalt Simmeringer Markt

Omnipresent and yet often overlooked, the small buildings of the city of Vienna – from kiosks to passenger shelters to public lavatories – are indispensable to the functioning of the city. For over 150 years, these small, solitary buildings have been among the essential components of the city and bear witness to its development. Despite their small size, they shape the urban space. But their inconspicuous size is often their disadvantage. Taken for granted when needed, they lose their raison d’être and have to give way when needs change. At best, they are relocated to a less desirable location, but are thus torn away from their original context; at worst, they get completely demolished.
The aim of this work is to generate insights into the universe of these “significant trivialities” (Lampugnani 2019), to trace their historical development and to demonstrate their abundance, diversity, quality and relevance on the basis of a collection of approximately 70 existing passenger shelters [W], public lavatories [B] and kiosks [K]. Based on this it encourages the concern for the often forgotten, small buildings of the city of Vienna.

As the focus of this research lays on monument preservation, it concludes with an analysis of the current situation with regard to protection, values, difficulties and potentials.

Omnipresent and yet often overlooked, the small buildings of the city of Vienna – from kiosks to passenger shelters to public lavatories – are indispensable to the functioning of the city. For over 150 years, these small, solitary buildings have been among the essential components of the city and bear witness to its development. Despite their small size, they shape the urban space. But their inconspicuous size is often their disadvantage. Taken for granted when needed, they lose their raison d’être and have to give way when needs change. At best, they are relocated to a less desirable location, but are thus torn away from their original context; at worst, they get completely demolished.
The aim of this work is to generate insights into the universe of these “significant trivialities” (Lampugnani 2019), to trace their historical development and to demonstrate their abundance, diversity, quality and relevance on the basis of a collection of approximately 70 existing passenger shelters [W], public lavatories [B] and kiosks [K]. Based on this it encourages the concern for the often forgotten, small buildings of the city of Vienna.