ÖAMTC Headquarters #7

Reflections on a glass wall inside the ÖAMTC headquarters.

ÖAMTC Headquarters #6

We are back at the ÖAMTC headquarters for another short visit. I think the shadows of the roof construction create a nice effect in the atrium.

Nice Street

A nice street in the 9th district...

Fenster Café

This is Vienna's smallest third wave coffee bar, located in the very city center. The coffee is served only through this window. The speciality of the Fenster Café is the "cornettocino", coffee in an ice-cream cornet.

Sunday Flowers #242

Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning. - Lydia M. Child

Friendly Face?

This eye-catching face was created by Polish artist Someart. It is part of his long term street project "Friendly Faces". Honestly this face doesn't seem very friendly to me... What do you think?

Bridge Over Calm Waters

This bridge leads across the lily pond in the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens.

From Inside

Looking out of the beautfiul gazebo in the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens.

A Good Place to Relax

The Hirschstetten Flower Gardens, the cultivation gardens of the Municipal Department which is in charge of the Viennese parks and gardens, located in the 22nd district, are a good place to spend a sunny afternoon. There are several differently themed areas and a lot of places to relax.

Blue Tables & Chairs

You know that I have this thing for tables and chairs... So you will certainly understand that I just couldn't ignore these in the Kagran School Gardens ;-)

Water Tower

This water tower is located on the terrain of the former North Railway Station. It is a listed building, so it will not be destroyed despite the imminent construction activity in this area. As far as I know, it is still unclear how it will be used in the future.

Sunday Flowers #241

"True friends are like bright sunflowers that never fade away, even over distance and time." - Marie Williams Johnstone

An Apple a Day...

You can even pick some apples while exploring the area of the former North Railway Station.

Overgrown Fallow Land - Soon to be Gone

The area of the former North Railway Station is currently one of the major intra-urban development areas. From 2009 to 2013 a first part has already been covered with buildings, soon the second construction phase will start. The overgrown fallow land (in Austrian German we call it "Gstettn") and the railway tracks in this photo will disappear...

Orange Pillars

The modern apartment building that I showed you on Tuesday is located next to the 31.000 square meter large Rudolf Bednar Park created in 2008. In the center of the park there is a canopy with eye-catching orange pillars.

Sunset Obsession #43

The sunset over the Danube some days ago...

Modern Housing #2

This apartment building is located in the area of the former North Railway Station in the 2nd district. It is a collective housing project: The building is owned by an association of the tenants who were involved in the planning of the structure and now share its management. The building consists of 40 individual units and 800 m2 community spaces (communal kitchen, roof terrace, library, sauna, guest apartments, rentable multipurpose space, workshop).

Eyecatching Letters

The "Salon am Park" is a grocery in the 2nd district where you can also have breakfast, snacks or light meals at noontime. I like the eyecatching letters in different fonts and colours.

Sunday Flowers #240

"I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - 
three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain." - John Keats

Josefsplatz

Josefsplatz is located in the very city center and named after Emperor Joseph II who is depicted as a Roman conqueror in the monument in the center of the square. Josefsplatz is enclosed on three sides by parts of the Imperial Palace. So it's not really a bad place ;-)

Looks (nearly) like chez Monet

The other day I was at the Kagran School Gardens. They serve as training facility for the students of the Vocational School for Horticulture and Floristry. Usually the gardens are open to the public only once a month, but in July and August they can be visited from Monday to Wednesday. They are a very quiet place and a real insider tip, I love to go there once every summer. There are several theme gardens, my favourite one is the one inspired by Claude Monet's garden in Giverny. 

Semperdepot #3

A last photo of the Prospect Court of the Semperdepot.

Semperdepot #2

Here's another view of the Prospect Court of the Semperdepot.

Semperdepot #1

Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit the Semperdepot. The building was designed by Gottfried von Semper and Karl von Hasenauer and constructed from 1874 to 1877. Originally it served as a depot for the stage sets of the Austrian Federal Theatres. Today it houses studios of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, other parts (like the Prospect Court in this photo) can be rented for events. It was the first time that I was inside the Semperdepot without attending an event... Please click here and here for older photos taken during events.

Street Art on Garage Doors

I love street art and the fact that it slowly but surely gets some recognition in Austria. Recently I walked again past these garage doors in the 6th district with works by Austrian urban artist Golif. Please click here for an older photo of one of these doors.

Sunday Flowers #239

"Be honest, be nice, be a flower not a weed." - Aaron Neville

A Courtyard as Passage

Usually this courtyard in the city center is open during the week and allows you to pass from Bäckerstraße to Wollzeile.

Fillgraderstiege

The Fillgraderstiege in the 6th district was built from 1905 to 1907 and designed by Max Hegele in an Art Nouveau style. The stairs connect the two streets Fillgradergasse and Theobaldgasse. In 2004 the Fillgraderstiege was named the fourth most beautiful steps in Europe in a poll of European art professors.