“Imagine living here,” someone muses, gazing up at Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4. It’s more than just a building. It’s a slice of Vienna’s housing history.
Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4 stands in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. It represents Vienna’s commitment to improving living conditions. This Gemeindebau, or municipal housing complex, has a story etched into its walls.
Let’s step back in time. The area’s development owes much to Franz Wenzel Dadler. He was a cloth maker and potash producer. In 1799, Dadler bought the Braunhirschen estate. This estate surrounded what is now Braunhirschengasse. Dadler divided the land into parcels. This spurred construction in the area. He played a key role in populating this district.
Now, picture this: before Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4 existed, there was an old building. It housed seven apartments and two shops. In 1969, that old structure was torn down. Change was in the air, and Vienna was ready for new housing solutions.
Construction on Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4 finished between 1978 and 1980. This building emerged during a period of significant housing improvement efforts in Vienna. During that time a large loan was granted to improve more than 48,000 apartments. Around 39 housing complexes were renovated. More than 6,000 new apartments were built. The architecture shifted from simple rows of buildings to more flexible designs. These designs featured individual character and resident-friendly layouts.
The architect behind Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4 was Gabor Fettik. Fettik was born in Hungary in 1936. He studied at the Vienna Technical College. He designed several residential complexes for the City of Vienna.
Notice the architecture of Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4. The ground floor acts as a base. Above it, five upper floors rise. The top floor is designed as a terrace level. The street facade is symmetrical. It features alternating horizontal and vertical elements. The staircase is in the middle. Horizontal rows of windows line the sides. The building subtly protrudes above the base.
The courtyard facade features a central oriel. This oriel extends over the first four floors. On the fifth floor, it forms the base of a terrace. Both the street and courtyard facades are smooth. They are unadorned, typical of the era. The building is set back from the street by five meters. District heating warms the apartments.
Interestingly, the building itself has no specific name. It simply takes its name from the street. The Grimmgasse was once called Fischergasse. In 1894, it was renamed in honor of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. These brothers were famous for their work in linguistics. They collected German folktales.
Gemeindebau Grimmgasse 4 is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to Vienna’s dedication to its citizens. It reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to providing quality housing for all.