From Gasometer City, I explored the neighbourhood of St. Marx, home to medium density residential, parts of the University of Vienna, and the head quarters of communication giant, T-Mobile, which hovers over the skyline. It is also a place with many interesting adaptive reuse cultural spaces. There I found the “Rinderhalle” (translated as “cow hall”), a former slaughterhouse and an important economic driver until the 1990s.
I passed through an opening in the temporary siding and entered the space. The interior is breathtaking. It is 175 metres long and 20,000 square metres (or approximately 200,000 square feet). Restored by the City of Vienna and stripped down to its structure, it is truly elegant. The structure comprises of long span steel trusses illuminated by generous skylights. Given the former use, the place may have been kind of haunting, but instead was peaceful, sun-filled and awe-inspiring. Apparently some temporary uses including concerts and exhibitions have taken place there but a long-term permanent use hasn’t been found.
No comments:
Post a Comment