Beginning of Autumn

The astronomical autumn begins today even though it has been feeling like autumn already for several days. Autumn is definitely not my favourite season, but I would love to eat this cake...

Just another Work of Art...

Yesterday evening I was at the opening of the art fair viennacontemporary  where around 100 galleries from 26 countries present contemporary art with a focus on Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In this pohoto you see a work of Austrian artists Maria Anwander and Ruben Aubrecht. The ironic title of "Just another Work of Art which will not go down in History" refers to the postmodern dictum that there are no more masterpieces.

White Tables & Chairs

Shortly after the rain had stopped the outdoor area of the restaurant Meierei was still deserted when I passed by last Sunday evening.

The Restaurant in the Park

The restaurant Meierei located in the Stadtpark, last Sunday after the rain had stopped. At the Meierei you can savour Viennese delicacies and more than 100 different types of cheese. The building originally was erected in 1903 as a milk bar of the City of Vienna. During World War II it was badly damaged and afterwards it was considerably remodelled.

After the Rain

Yesterday it was raining cats and dogs until the early evening. I took a walk in the Stadtpark when the sun tried to get through the clouds...

Sunday Flowers #245

"Do not linger to gather flowers to keep them, but walk on, 

for flowers will keep themselves blooming all your way." - Radindranath Tagore

Community Garden

A community garden on the banks of the Danube Canal... The photo was taken when the weather was still summerlike...

University of Economics #5

In this photo of the campus of the University of Economics and Business you can see the department center D2/student center on the left side and the teaching center on the right side.

University of Economics #4

I love to take walks on the campus of the University of Economics and Business, especially on weekends or during the holidays when everything is quiet and I can concentrate on the architecture of the six different group of buildings. In this photo you can see three of them: on the right side the department building D4, in the center the department building D2/student center and on the left side the library and learning center.

Deserted Common Room

It is still rather quiet on the campus of the University of Economics and Business as the academic year starts only in October.

Free Library

During my walk on the campus of the University of Economics and Business last Sunday I discovered this free library where you can exchange books: You can pick one that you like and deposit books that you don't need or want any more.

Before the Change of Weather

The weather forecast for this week is rather bad: there will be a significant drop of temperature and a lot of rain. Yesterday it was still possible to have lunch outside...

Sunday Flowers #244

"Flowers bringt to a liberal and gentlemanly mind, 
the remembrance of honesty, comeliness, and all kinds of virtue." - John Gerard

Hand in Hand

A young couple walking hand in hand along the Danube Canal...

New Haircut #2

In another mural Lushsux also gets the "supreme leader" of North Korea a new haircut. Does this hair-do seem familiar to you or maybe recall someone?

New Haircut #1

The works of Australian artist Lushsux are often provocative, confrontational and comical. They offer shameless commentary on topics as well as prominent figures that are trending at this very moment. In this work on the banks of the Danube Canal he gave the current president of the United States of America a new haircut...

Full Moon

Tonight is full moon. I took this photo on Monday during my bicycle ride (yes, by now night falls before I get home) when the moon already seemed rather full. Unfortunately the photo is a little blurred and doesn't quite transmit the atmosphere of the evening...

Vision

It is already the 10th time that the Ringturm has gotten wrapped with an artwork during summertime. This year the work "Vision" by Serbian artist Mihael Milunović was chosen. When the Ringturm was inaugurated in 1955, it was Austria's first tall office building and a milestone of so called moderate modern architecture. The edifice houses the headquarters of an insurace group.

Back to School

Today is the first day of the new schoolyear. In figures this means that in Vienna 225.000 pupils and 25.000 teachers are back at work in 702 schools. 17.000 children will enter a school building for the very first time.

Sunday Flowers #243

"There shall be eternal summer in a grateful heart." - Celia Thaxter

On the Banks of the Danube Canal

People chilling on the banks of the Danube Canal last Tuesday when the weather was still summerlike. With the meteorological start of autumn on September 1st, the weather drastically changed...

September Theme Day: Photographing the Photographer

An instawalk is when a group of people get together to explore a place while documenting their experience with photos and uploading them on instagram. And that's how it looks like when instagrammers do their job. I took this photo in July during the instawalk at the ÖAMTC headquarters.

Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.

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.