Between 1919 and 1934, the social democratic town administration accomplished an ambitious plan of social housing in order to improve the miserable living conditions of the working class in post-war Vienna. The city-owned apartment blocks built at that time represent landmarks of modern Vienna until the present day. The most famous complex is certainly the enormous Karl-Marx-Hof which contains 1.380 apartments. In one of the former bath houses the informative exposition on “Red Vienna” is shown.

Practical information

PROGRAM: we will explore the monumental building complex.

MEETING POINT: we meet at the last station of the underground line U4 Heiligenstadt (exit: 12. Februar-Platz).

DURATION: 45 minutes - 1 hour.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

After the tour you may visit the exhibition "Das Rote Wien" which is located in the ancient laundry of Karl-Marx-Hof (see opening hours). A more detailed insight into Red Vienna architecture offers the long tour proposed on this site.

FURTHER READING: Eva Blau, The Architecture of Red Vienna 1919-1934, New York 1999.

(© Reinhard Travnicek)