EXHIBITING THE CITY
TU Delft
Complex Project Studio
2017 | 2018
Anatomy of a Landmark
Michaelerplatz
Vienna, Austria
Exhibiting the city is a project for the city of Vienna with the aim of showing the process of transformation
of the city through its architecture and the totality of its image.
The starting point of the analysis was the study of the Looshaus, architecture known for the scandal in breaking with the architectural tradition of Vienna. Situated in an area close to the city centre, place in which Vienna still wants to show itself as the important centre that was during its golden age, the Looshaus presents itself as a step in the continuous process of transformation of the city: the architecture in fact breaks from the traditional imperial architectural style of Vienna, trying to give a new direction towards the modern identity of the Austrian capital. By focusing on the development of the image of the city, the concept of the project shifts from the singular architecture of the Looshaus to the square of Michaelerplatz, intended as the place where the city shows itself and its identity.
Once again, it can be immediately noticed that the process of transformation of the city is denied by the predominance of the architectures of the Golden Age, that become the only attraction and element of relevance in the area. This results to be unfortunate, especially in Michaelerplatz, where the square is defined by different landmarks that refer to a specific and precise time in the history of the city: the Roman ruins of Vindobona, the medieval church of Michaelerkirche, the imperial palace of the Hofburg and the bourgeois architecture of the Looshaus. The project aims to take into account all the different landmarks that define Michaelerplatz, by framing and exhibit them through a promenade that guides the visitor in the discovery of the process of transformation of the city.
The design is defined by three main elements: the ramp, the stage and the tower.
The ramp is the element of connection between the open space of the square and the beginning of the promenade. Two walls direct the visitors towards the path of discovery of the city by continuously closing their view on the surrounding. Only in determined spots the wall is cut and permit the vision of the interested landmark.
The promenade follows a “back in time” timeline: by entering in the ramp, visitors are guided in the discovery of the city from its most modern landmark to the oldest one. The path also shows the different
elements of power that marked out different periods of time in Viennese history: the bourgeoisie, the Empire, the Church and the Roman occupation. The last step of the promenade consists of the Roman Ruins of Vindobona: they not only represent the act of foundation of the city, but act as a filter area towards the central part of the project: the stage and
the tower.
The stage has the purpose to activate the inner part of the square, not considered and used by tourists by now. Not only it represents the place of relax and contemplation of the square from it centre, but also operate as an open air theatre, that can be used for artistic exhibition, concerts and cultural events.
The tower represents the concrete realisation of all the different tensions and directions of the several landmarks in Michaelerplatz. It hosts temporary exhibition on the ground floor and first floor and a café in the panoramic level on the top. From here, visitors can appreciate and understand the complexity of the process of transformation of the city by looking at the different landmarks at once and having a complete view about the totality of Vienna’s image: it is here that the city shows itself in all its aspects.
