Bicycle tour in WU-Prater

Vienna is also today dominated by the domestic and imperial architecture of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, typical of its golden age. The two-headed eagles of the Habsburgs and the name and image of Franz Josef I are still all over. Together with the underground just at the beginning of its construction, the art nouveau Stadtbahn conceived by Wagner constituted the fulcrum of public transport.

Recall that Vienna is also the city where Hundertwasser together with Krawina built the first ecological house probably for the first time in Europe. Today Vienna has a lot of ecological modern architecture as for example WU, the university of economics in Prater.

WU Vienna has a modern ecological architecture with lots of greenery and open water games.

Today it is very important to protect the environment and to create a pleasant temperature even in the hottest summer. For this reason, buildings are planned by now with the purpose to create a local cold climate during the summer.

The architecture of the future with trees or vegetation on the houses was started in Vienna by two architects: Prof. Josef Krawina and Friedensreich Hundertwasser. From an architectural point of view, Hundertwasser wanted to create human-sized constructions full of colors, naturalness and harmonies as a compelling dialogue between nature and man.

In the Prater we see another very current example of modern architecture in Vienna today. In the Campus WU in Prater there are many green spaces with a lot of bicycle paths, a terrain with forms of undulations for children or for young people with scooters. Here is also an artificial lake on which there is a shipbuilding. There are also many open water games.

We all see that modern architecture must not necessary lead to the destruction of the environment.

The University of Economics (in German called WU) is located in the second Viennese district headed for Green Prater which is traditionally a relaxation area.

The new campus includes all four departments that were previously in buildings at different addresses in Vienna.

The Prater has become also an educational center with the WU Campus which is built as a new architectural symbol for a modern and growing city.

The Campus is made up of seven new buildings built in 2013 on an area larger than twelve football fields.

About 50% of the usable area was projected without buildings as a large green space that is open to all, not only to the 25 000 students and 1500 employees.

The whole complex was built according to the principles of the "Green Building".

For example the distribution of energy is made primary use of thermal ground water.

There are also external enclosures and systems designed to be as efficient and sustainable as possible. Especially in the interior, the new university campus offers more natural light in all rooms and classrooms, which also offer modern and computerized technology. For students there are 3000 places to study and work together or alone.

The Library designed by Zaha Hadid& Hamburg Architecture Office

The futuristic architecture of the Library in the new Campus is very impresive and well noticeable because it is a complex that really stands out above all. Around it are five other buildings.

The roof juts widely and has a form of monitor and in the direction of Prater it is clearly visible from far away. This form of construction is typical of architect Zaha Hadid. The external appearance is very impressive with its contrasting play between light, bright and dark construction elements. The elements on the facade are of colored fiber cement and separated from the glass.

The main entrance of the "Library & Learning Center" is under the monumental roof and the central place of the Piazza di Campus.

In the building there is a library and a central point of student services. Inside it is all built in a naval way, therefore a little inclined or diagonal which is not always of good functionality.

Of course, a construction that is truly impressive to see.

Department D3 and the administrative building (AD)

The building is near the green Prater in the south of the Campus and between Prater and the D3 department there is also a truly beautiful cycle path as you can see in the short video below of the text.

There are two buildings that are designed by the CRABstudio in London and are built on the 20 000 sq m useful area and have a beautiful yellow-orange facade with wooden slats. There are passages, niches, lobbies and free spaces with many seats that also offer a nice view in the Prater.

The upper floors have structured facades with orange and beige vertical bands. The slats from the facades are made of white fir wood and serve for protection against the sun by reminding the trees in the Prater. The two buildings have different functions: In the department called D3 there are four research institutes, a library specialized in economic law and rooms for projects and seminars. Instead in the administrative building there is the administration of the Faculty of Economics.

Department D1 and the "Student Center"

Department D1 with its "Student Center" designed by the BUSarchitektur ZT GmbH Office in Vienna is the entrance to the east of the campus. The facade is made of steel that does not need maintenance and with the past years would change the color. Inside are the institute of international trade and one for research. The block of monolithic structure next to it has a multifunctional classroom center with a modern technique and natural light for about 5000 people. There are also relaxation areas and a café.