Wertinvest

House with Eyebrows

Facade: Peter Sandbichler

In a reversed reference to Adolf Loos' designed "House without Eyebrows" on Michaelerplatz (1910), the artistic intervention by Peter Sandbichler reconstructs the Wilhelminian-era facade of the building at Mariahilferstraße 1 in a contemporary formal language and with innovative construction technology.

The Mariahilferstraße 1/Getreidemarkt 17 building from the second half of the 19th century originally featured a particularly charming Wilhelminian-era facade that enriched the cityscape with its wealth of structure and the play of light and shadow. This ornamentation was completely removed after a massive bomb hit in World War II and subsequent renovations. During its last adaptation, it was only half-heartedly applied in a inferior execution following the historical model.

As a counter-movement to this devaluation, the new rooftop addition signaled a strong contemporary statement, giving the building an appropriate status, particularly with Arnold Reinthaler's light sculpture "TOMORROW." However, it stands relatively detached from the urban space, perched on its pedestal.

ARTISTIC INTERVENTION

The work restores the VARTA House to its "original face" by connecting the historical and contemporary parts of the building through a sculptural intervention across the entire facade.

The artistic design translates the documented facade from 1868 into a system of orthogonal elements. While maintaining the historical highs and lows, the surfaces are truncated at the edges. This restores the building's characteristic plastic effect typical of this Wilhelminian-era architectural style. Up close, the independent formal composition is revealed, open to interpretation both in connection with the futuristic rooftop addition and the conceptual orientation of the company.

Peter Sandbichler is an Austrian artist based in Vienna. In 1995, he exhibited at the Austrian Pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia. His work spans sculpture, object art, media art, and installations.

www.petersandbichler.com/