A majestic gateway welcomes you to the Zürcher-Hof. This isn’t just any apartment building. It’s a monument to Vienna’s social history.
Built between 1928 and 1931 by architects Emil Hoppe and Otto Schönthal the Zürcher-Hof originally housed 233 families. It was once known as the GÖC-Hof. This is because the first department store of the Großeinkaufsgesellschaft für österreichische Consumvereine (GÖC) was located here. Imagine the bustling activity. Shoppers filled the aisles. Families lived above. A true community hub.
More than just apartments the Zürcher-Hof boasted a cinema and lecture hall. It had communal facilities. This was typical of the “Red Vienna” era. A period of significant social reform. The city built thousands of affordable homes. These were designed to improve living conditions for workers.
The Zürcher-Hof’s design is striking. It’s an axial-symmetrical building. It wraps around a spacious courtyard. A monumental gateway interrupts the façade. Above it sits the “Fries der Arbeit” a ceramic frieze by Siegfried Charoux. The frieze depicts rural and urban working life. Charoux a sculptor and cartoonist for the Arbeiter-Zeitung (Workers’ Newspaper) later emigrated to England.
The imposing stairwells rise high above the roofs. They add a powerful almost threatening presence to the building. The long balconies stretch across the façade. They emphasize the horizontal lines. This creates a sense of grandeur and harmony.
The name Zürcher-Hof reflects a significant moment in history. It was renamed in 1949. This was to express gratitude for Switzerland’s support after World War II. The Zürcher-Hof. It’s a testament to Vienna’s ambitious social housing projects. It stands as a beautiful reminder of a city’s commitment to its people. A commitment to community. A commitment to a better life for all. The Zürcher-Hof. A timeless example of “Red Vienna” architecture.