Karl-Seitz-Hof

Name: Karl-Seitz-Hof
Location: Jedleseer Straße 66-94, Vienna 21
Architect: Hubert Gessner
Year: 1926-1931
Area: 25,320 m²
Apartments: 1,173
 overview

“Gartenstadt Jedlesee”

The Karl-Seitz-Hof was built in 1926-1931 in

the monumental style after Otto Wagner
and is a listed building. The housing
estate was called “Garden City Jedlesee”
because of its numerous courtyards and
green areas.
 history

city within the city

The Neue Wirtschaft reported: “The municipality of Vienna is now
working on a housing project that has never been undertaken
in such a generous way in any city in the world. A complex of
residential buildings is being created in Floridsdorf, in which 1,800
flats together with numerous shops, bathrooms, nurseries etc. will
find space [...].

competition

In 1925, the municipality of Vienna

announced a close competition
between Karl Krist, Robert Oerley and
Hubert Gessner for the construction
of a “garden city” in Jedlesee. Hubert
Gessner was awarded the contract.
 1st housing programme

25.000th flat

The garden city Jedlesee, which also

produced the 25,000th flat of the first housing
programme, was completed in 1932 and
named in 1950 after the former mayor and
first president of the Republic, Karl Seitz, who
was given a triumphant reception here by the
Floridsdorf Social Democrats on 29 July 1945
after his return from the concentration camp.
 location

With all the greenery inside and around the

superblocks with apartments the Karl Setiz Hof
can truly be seen as a garden city in the sense
that it is a form of housing halfway between urban
and rural.

(1) the Alois Appel Hof - this is not part of the

original Gartenstadt Floridsdorf
(2) Karl Seitz Platz
(3) large public garden at its heart
(4) the first superblock with two courtyard gardens
(5) the laterer blocks, all have a large green
spaces, which vary in size due to the skewed plot
(6) - D. Hoffmannhalle - the largest one with a room
for a swimming pool
(7) bathhouse ( Waschsalon)
(8) a school and (9) clubhouse - both are located
around the edges to also serve adjoining housing
 architecture

Rote Wien

The People’s Housing Palace in Gessner’s

typical monumental style is one of the most
architecturally significant achievements of
“Red Vienna” and - like the Karl-Marx-Hof
- can be regarded as a monument to the
Viennese working class

Overall, the architecture of
the main front is reminiscent
of a palace complex like the
Vienna Hofburg
architecture
main front
the monumental main front
with its elevated central sec-
tion has a pathetic effect. It is
concavely curved and forms
a large semicircle towards
Jadleseestraße.
 architecture

clock tower

on the left, northern edge,

the nine-storey clock tower
rises up, its entrance flanked
by two huge amphorae.
 architecture

waschsalon

...
 Karl Seitz Hof

COMPARISON
Location and Amenities

Similarities
· Metzleinstaler Hof, Holy Hof and Karl Seitz
Hof all have farmacies right outside.
· All the Hofs have Grocerie stores
· and cafes nearby.
· All the Hofs have great connection through
out different sorts of public transport.
· Metzleinstaler Hof, Holy Hof and Karl Seitz
Hof have churches withwwin walking dis-
tance.
· George-Washington-Hof and Karl Seitz Hof
Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof have basketball courts.

Differences
· George Washington Hof does not have a
farmace, but does have a clinic.
· Karl Seitz Hof had the most cafes nearby.
· George Washington Hof does not have a
church within walking distance.

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Size

Holy Hof is the smallest building with

only 103 apartments, right afer it goes
the Metzleinstaler Hof featuring only 252
apartments.
Then goes the George Washington Hof
Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof with 1007 apartments and the biggest
Hof out of all of them is Karl Seitz Hof with
1129 apartments.

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Vegetation

One thing that all Hofs have together is

vegetation. They all feature courtyards
with lots of greenery.
Especially the George Washington Hof
and Karl Seitz Hof. They even call those
two “Garden City”.
Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof In a newspaper interview,
Gessner explained: “I don’t think of the
garden city in such a way that every house
should have its own garden, but in such a
way that the houses themselves stand in a
park.”

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Social Housing features

Most Hofs have the features of Red

Vienna Social Housing:
· Most of the Hofs have kindergarten.
· Laundry rooms.
Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof · Playgrounds.
· Garbage disposal.

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Architecture

Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Entrances

Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Indoors

Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Atmosphere

Metzleinstaler Hof George Washington Hof

Karl Seitz Hof Holy Hof

Plans

George Washington Hof Karl Seitz Hof

Metzleinstaler Hof