Continuing our study abroad journey, this second city as text assignment led us to some very interesting places. Many of these places had very gorgeous architectural design components while also providing the public with a purposeful functionality. One of the first places we visited was this upscale bank just outside of Stephaschplatz called Looshaus. The bank is actually located across the plaza from the Hofsburg palace, and is covered in dark grey marble stone. I was surprised by the exterior’s lack of intricate design that would have coordinated the building with the palace across the way. Walking inside, the interior was designed with dark mahogany wood and gold detailing with vast ceilings and a grand marble staircase in the rear center of the main room. Everything about this place seemed high class, and after a short conversation with one of the interns there, we even discovered there was an art gallery inside of it. The intern also informed us that the bank was mainly used by upper class people, and they had special services that would cater to those in good financial conditions. Based on the simplicity of the architectural design of the building, it seems this bank was meant to serve the purpose of simply being a bank. One could also argue that the dressed-down design was intended to attract and invite people of all classes, however the ambience inside gives off an air of wealth and class. Perhaps this is why there were not many people inside the bank besides its employees.
To continue our fieldwork assignment, a short walk back into Stephaschplatz led us to an underground water closet designed by the same architect as the bank. Although this was clearly no ordinary bathroom, with the inside again designed in mahogany wood and gold details, it was also simplistically designed. This bathroom is another example of of how this architect wanted his designed buildings to serve a purpose for people of all classes. This bathroom is still unique enough to be considered classy, however it is a public toilet in the middle of the city center and anyone can realistically use this bathroom for a small fee of fifty euro-cents.
In addition to the other structures we encountered by Stephaschplatz, my group and I directed our attention to the Secession building. This building was designed by an artist of the secession, which can explain why this building’s style looks so foreign in comparison to those around it, keeping with the secessions theme of nouveau and different styles of art. Observing the surrounding area, there were not many pedestrians walking around and there actually seemed to be more vehicle traffic than foot traffic. This rather simplistic building was design to be an art gallery for the artists of the secession, understandably so considering that the inside of the building was not decorated at all. Its design was meant to be a blank slate for these artists and today it still serves this function. Our group took a moment to walk through and admire the art gallery before completing the CAT assignment while we remarked about how this was the perfect little art gallery for those rebellious artists of the secession.
Alyssa's Architectural Adventures 