RED VIENNA: IDEOLOGY, ARCHITECTURE AND ART IN THE REUMANNHOF MUNICIPAL SOCIAL HOUSING

Abstract

This study focuses on the Reumannh of Social Housing Complex, which was designed by Hubert Gessner (1871-1943) and constructed between 1924 and 1926 in Vienna. It was one of the largest buildings as part of the Municipal Social Housing Program for workers implemented under the leadership of Jakob Reumann, who was the mayor of Vienna between 1919 and 1923. According to the social democratic ideology in Vienna, known as the Red Vienna period (1919-1934) of the city administration, this program aimed to meet the housing needs of the working class and to provide them with better living conditions. Due to the increase in worker migration to the city after the Industrial Revolution and upon the demolition of the city during World War I, a housing crisis emerged in Vienna and unfavorable living conditions - such as one-room apartments and rental beds even for a few hours - became a necessity. The paper attempts to probe into the nature of the connection between the Reumannh of Complex architecture and the Red Vienna ideology in light of the social democratic perspective of the working class. In order to do so, the entire structure - known as "the palace of the working class" - is analyzed in detail while pointing to similar social housing complexes, such as Metzleinstalerh of on the Margareteng & uuml;rtel known as "Proletarian's Boulevard" and nearby. Additionally, the standardization criteria, as envisioned within the context of the social housing program, are examined to find out any traces of their presence (or improvements/modifications upon them) in the Reumannh of Complex. In the context of the political and socio-economic conditions of that era, a comparative analysis of the architectural elements and landscape architecture is conducted, such as courtyards and Haydn park on the front in the latter case. Original archival documents, photographs, and drawings of the complex were collected and during the course of the field research, photographs were taken. A housing typology and drawings were made in accordance with the general floor plan of the building, drawn by Gessner himself to determine the details related to the features of the houses - such as kitchen, living room+kitchen, and the number and function of the rooms - in order to determine the reflection of the living comfort promised by the social democratic ideology. As a result, three main plan types were identified based on the spaces contained within the houses, and subgroups were created according to balconies, terraces, or bay windows, all of which provided daylight and fresh air. In conclusion, the research establishes that the Reumannhof Complex houses, common facilities as terraces, infant school, laundry rooms, etc. all implemented standards that were mostly aligned with those related to welfare and in line with the principles of social democratic ideology. Lastly, it is revealed that architectural and artistic elements, such as wrought iron, ceramic panels illustrating craftsmen and different professions, motifs, and sculptures, not only reflect the social democratic ideology and motto, but also create new living environments by integrating architectural design with green spaces for the working class. As witness to this assertion, it is useful to notice that the complex still serves the function of economic housing for the working class and remains important as a symbol of social democratic ideology.