Built between 1980 and 1982 Gemeindebau Ortliebgasse 1-3 stands proudly before you. This impressive structure is a testament to Vienna’s commitment to providing affordable housing. It’s not one of the grand old Gemeindebauten from the Red Vienna era. This building reflects a different period of Viennese architectural history the 1980s. The architect Rudolf Weichinger designed it. He also designed another complex in Vienna the Amstergasse 1.
Gemeindebau Ortliebgasse 1-3 boasts 43 apartments. Its location at the corner of Ortliebgasse and Ottakringer Strasse is key to its design. The building’s design responds to the street’s layout. Notice how the facade steps back. This cleverly connects it to a slightly older neighboring building.
The main entrance is easily visible. It is unlike those in the older Gemeindebauten. Those boasted large gates opening to inner courtyards. Gemeindebau Ortliebgasse 1-3 has a more modern style. The four sections each have their own staircase. The corner section is seven stories high. The other sections along Ortliebgasse are shorter only four stories high.
The building’s design uses window groupings for its aesthetic effect. Small circular details above the entrances add a touch of unique flair. The original design plans were more ambitious. They included prominent vertical elements and larger roof structures. However these features were not realized in the final construction. The courtyard side is simpler. It features regular rectangular windows with no further ornamentation.
The name Ortliebgasse itself carries history. It originates from Ortliebus de Als a landowner in Hernals around 1290. The street was previously known as Franzensgasse and Herrengasse. The land on which Gemeindebau Ortliebgasse 1-3 stands has a past too. The Vienna municipality acquired it in 1976. Previous buildings on the site were demolished in 1939. A one-story building with a coffee house at the Ottakringer Strasse corner existed until 1978. This too was removed before construction started in 1979.
Gemeindebau Ortliebgasse 1-3 stands as a solid example of post-war Viennese housing design. Its story intertwines with the city’s ongoing efforts to provide quality affordable homes for its citizens. It’s a building that speaks of both modern planning and the long history of the area. This building is more than just apartments. It is a chapter in Vienna’s architectural story.