Mauerbergsiedlung by Roland Rainer

The other day I took a never-before-taken turn when walking around my neighborhood. Thus, I made a discovery of a small architectural gem I didn‘t even know that it existed here.

I live in the 23rd district of Vienna, in a quarter called Mauer. It‘s close to the boarder of the city, actually verging on the woods of Wienerwald. It mostly consists of single family homes and some smaller residential housing buildings. Though there are nice architectural masterpieces like Wotrubakirche to be found here, it‘s not what this district is famous for (Spoiler: it‘s the wine).

A hidden garden village in Mauer

One reason why I haven‘t discovered the place before is probably because it‘s accessible via small pavement only. There are no roads and no access for cars in the area I‘m about to describe.

So called “Mauerbergsiedlung” is a residential estate on the foot of Maurerberg and Wienerwald, located between Rodauner Straße and Rudolf-Waisenhorn-Gasse.

It consists of about 40 – mostly single-storey – family homes, each with garden and terraces. The buildings are spread across a steep and wide slope area offering spectacular views towards Perchtoldsdorf in the distance.

Although the estate was built in the 1960s, it realized a groundbreaking vision for this time: The whole village is completely car-free. There‘s one parking lot on the east side of the estate, but between the houses of Mauerbergsiedlung, there‘s only a network of pavement, allowing residents and visitors to access the houses. Fortunately, the area is open for visitors and passers-by, so I could visit it and take some photos.

Mauerbergsiedlung was built by one of Austria‘s most influential architects

The housing estate was planned and build by Austrian architect Roland Rainer in 1958-1964. Roland Rainer is considered as one of the most influential Austrian architects in the twentieth century. Vienna‘s „Stadthalle“, which was built between 1953 and 1958 is his most famous work.

With Mauerbergsiedlung, Roland Rainer realized his vision of urban low estate buidings and family homes. The whole estate is planned quite space-saving (another contemporary concept). Even though the area is densly built-up, the position of buildings guarantees individual privacy and high standard of living. The buildings are even regarded as one of the first ever housing projects to use passive solar energy. Event though the houses are aligned and built close to each other, they don‘t take each other‘s sunlight – and retain their privacy and seclusion.

Mauerbergsiedlung is still considered a showpiece project for urban development today.

A new world may exist just around the corner

Today, the revolutionary character of this housing estate can still be seen and felt, when walking around the premises. Yet, today a nice touch of patina adds up to the experience. You can tell that some of the houses are inhabited by people not so familiar with the architectural works of Rainer. Facades have been decorated or painted, extensions have been added to buildings – people built their homes. Even the kitschiest additions to the houses underline that the estate solves its purpose: Living quality for families.

Besides the architectural peculiarity of my discovery, finding Mauerbergsiedlung told me something else: It amazes me, what may live undiscovered next to one‘s familiar surroundings.

I frequently take long walks around my neighborhood, but still seem to confine myself to more evident paths. It really struck me to discover a new and unknown area relatively close to the place I live in.

This taught me the importance to leave one‘s familiar world once again – even if it just means to take another turn on your usual