“A monument of the Second Republic” they called it. Here before you stands the Bruno Kreisky Forum. This unassuming building at Armbrustergasse 15 holds a rich history. It wasn’t always a forum for international dialogue.
For decades this was the home of Bruno Kreisky. Austria’s former chancellor lived here from 1951 until his death in 1990. He wasn’t the owner though. The Wiener Städtische Versicherung the Municipal Vienna Insurance Company rented it to him. The building itself dates back to the Biedermeier period. Many original features were preserved when it was transformed into the forum.
After Kreisky’s death in 1991 his friends and colleagues established the Bruno Kreisky Forum. They wanted to continue his legacy of international dialogue. With the help of the Austrian government and the Kahane family the building was acquired. A renovation turned the house into the modern forum we see today. Franz Vranitzky the first president oversaw this transformation.
The forum opened in 1993. The official opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries. It included the then Chancellor Franz Vranitzky and Marion Gräfin Dönhoff. The original furniture from Kreisky’s living room remains. It adds a personal touch to the space. This provides a tangible link to the past.
Downstairs you’ll find administrative offices and a library. Upstairs mobile partitions create flexible spaces. These can be configured as five seminar rooms or a single lecture hall seating 140 people. The building features a beautiful veranda. It connects the library with the garden. This is a magical place of meeting. It provides a serene setting for contemplation.
The garden itself is remarkable. It boasts centuries-old trees. One tree stands out. It is a legendary cedar of Lebanon planted in 1815. It dates back to the Congress of Vienna. This tree is just one example of the garden’s protected species. The Bruno Kreisky Forum is more than a building. It’s a living testament to a man’s vision. It’s a place of intellectual exchange and a symbol of Austria’s commitment to international dialogue. It’s a place where history meets the present. The legacy of Bruno Kreisky continues here in this remarkable place.