Alena Drahokoupilová

In my practice I’m particularly interested in urban space, modern architecture and postwar modernism. The main strategies of my artistic work are dokumentation and intervention. During my stay in Vienna I’m particularyparticularly interested in Alterlaa housing estate and architecture of public swimming-pools.

Bath City Vienna

The first of the public „Volksbäder“ (municipal baths) was opened already in 1887, and in „Red Vienna“ further public baths alongside the big public hoursing buildings were constructed, as well as some important outdoor pools (e.g. Kongressbad, 1928) and numerous open-air pools for kids. Today, under the management of the City of Vienna, there are 10 summer baths, 5 indoor swimming pools, 7 combined baths, and 11 family baths, further baths are run by private companies. 

„Holidays at home“ was the motto of summer 2020. Accordingly, the Viennese baths have reacted exemplary and admission for the whole summer season was reduced to 3€ for adults for a day ticket which made the baths available to a broad range of society. Before my arrival in August, I had already done research on the topic of baths in the City of Vienna and decided, after visiting a few open-air swimming pools, to develop an artistic photo series. As a former amateur swimmer I have a very positive relationship to swimming since my childhood and try to visit local in- and outdoor pools whenever I am abroad. I was impressed by the variety and accessibility of the baths of the City of Vienna..

As a photographer I was mainly interested in architecture, equipment and its details, as well as the traces of time, wear and tear and a few, often accidental still lifes. Together with my family I have visited the following baths: Kongressbad, Strandbad Gänsehäufel, Ottakringer Bad, Döblinger Bad, Stadionbad (Bundesbad) and theFamilienbad Hofferplatz.

In the beginning of September 2020 I have contected the Magistratsabteilung 44 - Bäder (magistrale department 44 - Baths) and easily got permission to photograph before the opening hours in the Kogressbad and the Gänsehäufel. Also I could take photos for 2 hours in each outdoor bath without being disturbed. The photographs of the seemingly abandoned baths refer through subtle details to its visitors, the red and white tapes on the contrary refer to the special circumstances of last summer.

This series is to me the beginning of a bigger work which I would like to continue in the next years.