21er Haus - How culture is developing from 20 to 21
THE BUILDING A park or a garden behind a building has certainly an advantage. This is the case with the 21er Haus next to the Schweizer Garten (Swiss garden) situated very close to the Southern railway terminus of Vienna. It is neither antique nor at least a bit royal like Vienna-lovers might guess when browsing through the points of interest of their on- or offline city guide. It is pretty modern, awkward and translucent. Horizontal and vertical steel beams are the primary structure, behind this glass everywhere. Still a pavilion since the park surrounds the structure. Inside a museum for contemporary art over 3 levels.
THE HISTORY 1958 – The architect Karl Schwanzer designs the Austria contribution for the World’s Fair in Brussels. And the pavilion wins the Grand Prix d’Architecture. 1962 – Transport of the steel construction from Brussels to Vienna to rebuild an extended version of the pavilion as Museum of the 20th century (consequently named 20er Haus). 2001 – After the opening of Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier the so called 20er Haus is vacant and its future became uncertain. 2011 – The operator of the Belvedere reopens the building as a new Museum for Contemporary Art – renovated, adapted and expanded “The 20er Haus turns into the 21er Haus!”
THE MISSION The 21er Haus is to be understood as a place of artistic production, reception, and reflection. The focus is on Austrian art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and its embedding in an international context.
EXHIBITION EXAMPLE
Among the opening exhibition is no-one else than Franz West, who shows a spatial installation with various material called “Moonlight” from 1998/2001 (see photo above). Another installation supported by b/w photographs called “Family of Austrians” is a courtesy by the artist Philipp Müller originated 1993/2007(see photo below). However 13 other artists can be seen on the ground and 1st floor of the 21er Haus.
NB: The opening period finishes on 8th January, 2012.
More on http://www.belvedere.at/house21/en
Photos: Wolfgang G. Külper