Schmelz settlement and residential complex

Older part: Mareschsiedlung

Second construction phase: Residential complex at Wickhoffgasse 14–26

The Schmelz settlement and residential complex is an urban residential complex in the Neu-Fünfhaus district in Vienna's 15th district of Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus .

Building description

The Schmelz settlement and residential complex was planned as a workers' housing complex on the western edge of the former Schmelz parade ground during the First World War . The implementation was delayed, and thus the southern part ( Mareschsiedlung ) was not completed until 1920 as a municipal building for the City of Vienna according to plans by the architect Hugo Mayer . A total of four apartment blocks with 42 single-story houses and small kitchen gardens were built.

The large inner courtyards , which were used as vegetable gardens in the times of food shortages, now form an allotment garden oasis in the middle of the settlement.

The second construction phase was completed between 1921 and 1924, and since then the complex has consisted of 765 apartments. Several three-story houses were built in the northern part, e.g. B. the so-called horseshoe construction . A paddling pool was also built as part of the infrastructure. Today the children's pool has disappeared and only a fountain and a large gazebo are left.

This system illustrates the transition from a simple workers' housing estate (one-story house) to an urban residential complex (multi-story apartment block).

First community building

The Schmelz housing complex is competing with the Metzleinstaler Hof municipal building for the title of Vienna's first municipal building . Both were planned during the First World War and completed in 1919/20. The web lexicon of the Viennese Social Democrats does not provide a decision in this regard.

Famous residents

From 1921 to 1925, the future Federal President Adolf Schärf lived in the paddling pool building , which was named after a former children's outdoor pool in the inner courtyard. A memorial plaque on the house at Possingergasse 25, donated by the cultural association Fünfhaus, reminds of this.

See also

• List of municipal housing in Vienna

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Mareschsiedlung. In: dasrotewien.at - Web dictionary of the Viennese social democracy. SPÖ Vienna (Ed.)
2. ↑ Metzleinstaler Hof. In: dasrotewien.at - Web dictionary of the Viennese social democracy. SPÖ Vienna (Ed.)

literature

• Hans Hautmann , Rudolf Hautmann : The municipal housing of the Red Vienna 1919-1934. Schönbrunn, Vienna 1980, ISBN 3-8536-40631-0 .
• Inge Podbrecky: Red Vienna. walk See. 5 routes to built experiments. From Karl-Marx-Hof to Werkbundsiedlung . Falter-Verlag, Vienna 2003, ISBN 978-3-85439-295-8 , ( Falter's city walks 4).

Web links

Commons : Residential and settlement complex Schmelz  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Municipal housing estate and residential complex Schmelz in the digital cultural property register of the City of Vienna (PDF file)
• Schmelz settlement and residential complex. In: dasrotewien.at - Web dictionary of the Viennese social democracy. SPÖ Vienna (Ed.)
• Website of a tenant and home gardener from the Schmelz settlement

Coordinates: 48 ° 12 ′ 13.9 ″  N , 16 ° 18 ′ 52.6 ″  E