Symposium: Josef Frank and the Social Dimension in Contemporary Housing

To celebrate 90 years of the Wiener Werkbundsiedlung

Social housing issues were of key interest to the architect, activist and intellectual Josef Frank. What can be learned from Frank for engaging with housing issues today, in the face of a pandemic, a climate crisis and social polarisation?

In 1929 Josef Frank (in collaboration with Oskar Wlach) designed one of the most important residential buildings of the modernist era, Villa Beer in Vienna, as well as initiating the Vienna Werkbundsiedlung, which opened 90 years ago. Despite his clearly socialist stance, his liberal ideas for living in Red Vienna did not prevail. Under no circumstances should the occupant feel like they’re just a number, was among Frank’s core ideas, as was his demand “Forward to nature”. What might residential buildings look like that are developed in-line with Frank’s approach? The symposium presents four international approaches to architecture that could provide inspiration for residential buildings and neighbourhoods in Vienna: Grand Huit in Paris (see also pp 6-7); H&P architects in Hanoi; studio urbanek in Vienna; Christophe Hutin Architecture in Bordeaux.

16.30h Welcome address
Angelika Fitz, director, Az W
Daniel Glaser, City of Vienna, Wiener Wohnbauforschung MA 50
Herbert Medek, head of the Stuttgart conservation authority

17h Introduction
Maria Welzig and Lene Benz, Az W

17.20h Lectures
Marine Kerboua, Grand Huit, Paris (FR)
Doan Thanh Ha, H&P Architects, Hanoi (VNM)
Katharina Urbanek, studio urbanek, Vienna (AT)
Christophe Hutin, Christophe Hutin Architecture, Bordeaux (FR)

19h Discussion with the guest speakers

Moderated by Maria Welzig, Az W

Location: Beer House, Wenzgasse 12, 1130 Vienna