High-Rise Block in Vienna
- Andreas Ordon
This 220-metre-high building, the tallest in Austria, is situated on the northern bank of the Danube in the high-rise district of Vienna overlooking the old city centre. The original competition design by Dominique Perrault, consisting of two towers with a striking facade relief, was meant to create a sense of urbanity in a part of the city often criticized for its inhospitality. The origin of the facade folds is evident from the duality: the two blocks were designed as an intersecting monolith. The second tower has yet to be erected, which will depend on demand, but the underlying concept is evident even from the solitary structure. Folding backwards and forwards, the facade is subject to various reflections, depending on the incidence of light. The diversity of uses helps to enliven the location, playing with the idea of the vertical city.
