Where in Vienna can you find modern architecture? What is the height of the tallest buildings? Which renowned architects are significantly involved in modern Vienna? Where is modern architecture concentrated in Vienna? To immerse yourself in a modern and international Vienna , it is best to take the red U1 line to the Vienna International Center VIC – Kaisermühlen. This is where many of Vienna’s new modern and tallest buildings are concentrated .

The Vienna International Center – headquarters of international organizations

The Vienna International Center – one of the four headquarters of the United Nations has been located here since 1979 and was pretty much the first modern building in the area. The middle A-tower is 120 meters high. Around 5,000 people from all over the world work in the UNO City, as it is called by the locals. It is a city in itself and the architecture of the six office towers is arranged in such a way that, when viewed from the air, it forms the shape of a ypsilon . It is also said that it resembles the shape where a single disk used to be placed (if anyone can remember that time).

The Austrian architect Johann Staber built this impressive complex, which casts no shadow over each other, on a total of approx. 17 hectares from 1973-79 . It was leased to the United Nations for 99 years at a symbolic rent of 1 shilling per year (7 euro cents today). Several international organizations have their headquarters in Vienna: IAEA – the International Atomic Energy Agency, UNIDO – the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and many more.

You are entering extraterritorial territoryThis means that you leave Austria if you want to take a guided tour of the UNO City. Please do not forget your passport!

Right next door is the Austria-Center, the largest congress center in Austria. Vienna is a Congress city and hosts around 3,000 international congresses a year with a maximum capacity of up to 22,000 people. It was In the mid-1980s was also built by Johann Staber and fits in well with the overall concept.

The Danube City, where modern architecture grows towards the sky

Donau-City is the name given to the office and residential towers that have been built in the last 25 years, also at the same subway station next to the Reichsbrücke. The new modern district was created by platting over the different levels of this area next to the Danube (Donauplatte).

The Danube Tower as tallest building in Vienna with 252m was erected in 1964 as part of the International Garden Show in the Donaupark. Only 2m lower is the DC Tower, the newest “skyscraper” in this area. The other towers are called Andromeda Tower, Tech-Gate, Ares Tower, Saturn Tower, etc. The two architects Adolf Krischanitz and Heinz Neumann were significantly involved in this expansion. The DC Tower or the DC Towers ( a total of 3 towers are planned) from the French star architect Dominique Perrault is almost a new modern landmark for Vienna. The first tower has been available since 2014 and is home to international companies and the Melía-Hotel on the last Floors with fantastic view from the Open-air roof terrace in the 57th floor. The two other planned towers are still in the construction phase.

Modern architecture in Vienna’s city center

In the Vienna city center the the Haas House opposite St. Stephen’s Cathedral, modern architecture by the famous architect Hans Hollein to admire. It stands since 1990 in this form and the new building was initially heavily criticized because it is located in the middle of the historic city centre. The Do & Co Hotel offers from the roof terrace a very beautiful view. The “old Gothic” St. Stephen’s Cathedral is also beautifully reflected in the façade of the modern architecture. The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) impresses with modern architecture of the two main museumsthe Leopold Museum and the Mumok (Museum of Modern Art). 2001 it was opened after years of renovation, as the baroque stables of the Habsburgs used to be located here. Old tradition and modern architecture are stylishly combined here.

At the same time as the Museumsquartier, the Vienna Twin Tower on the Wienerberg in Favoriten. These are two modern office towers measuring 127m and 138m. The Wienerberg recreation area is located Wienerberg recreation area. As there is no connection to a subway station, this area is not on the usual sightseeing routes.

Campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business: THE work of international architects

From the Danube Tower you have a view of this modern part of Vienna. The Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) with its modern campus attracts fans of modern architecture. In particular, the striking Library Learning Center designed by the late star architect Zaha Hadid makes the the hearts of architecture freaks beat faster. Other international architects such as Peter Cook and Hitoshi Abe were involved, as well as architectural firms from Madrid and Barcelona. In the October 2013 the opening ceremony took place and the total costsamounted to just under 500 million euros. To the 25,000 students from all over the world come to Vienna to study at one of the largest and most renowned business universities in Europe to study. There are also guided tours of the WU campus.

Since December 2015 trains have been stopping at the newly built modern architecture modern architecture Vienna Central Station. The area with the Erste Bank Campus is developing into a new modern district of Vienna and is located very close to the city center on the red U1 line Hauptbahnhof. In less than 10 minutes you are at Stephansplatzin the middle of the city center.

Time Travel Tip: The Architekturzentrum Wien (AzW) in the Museumsquartier offers a permanent exhibition on modern architecture of the 20th and 21st centuries in Vienna and throughout Austria.

Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wienerberg_City_Skyline.jpg

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