Capital, Consumerism & Christmas Lights

If we travelled sixty years back in time we would recognise that world. The fashions, music, films, motorism, typography and street life would be familiar to us. The surfaces of daily life would be familiar to us; even though within the capitalist mode of production there has been a great deal of change. Manufacturing hasContinue reading “Capital, Consumerism & Christmas Lights”

A Funeral

Strange dreams; dreams are always strange. In the English countryside, early November days, the medieval period comes alive once more. Here and there, cottages in the misty late afternoon. Low cut tress, copper hues, dried blood red, dark green tones as life fades from the summer leaves. Winter trees appear, dark shadows, the starkness ofContinue reading “A Funeral”

Otto Prutscher

There are many routes to follow in tracing Red Vienna. Walking towards a planned destination; walking as a means of discovery, walking as an ambient experience within the envelopment of the city. Walking as both a journey and a destination. There is no need for rules or dogma. Chance, accident-ism, everything and anything. Walking inContinue reading “Otto Prutscher”

Karl Seitz Hof

The U-bahn train on line U3 came to a momentary stop outside Florisdorf station. It was a moment to catch up with myself. It’s like you suddenly become yourself again, remember who you are, waking up from a walking daydream through the city streets. An elderly woman walked past me pulling a shopping trolley. SheContinue reading “Karl Seitz Hof”

Red Vienna: A Radical Walk

Update: Thursday 31 July 2025I am organising a ‘Red Vienna Radical Walk’ on Sunday 28 September 2025. Meet outside the Rabenhof Theatre, Rabengasse 3, 1030 Wien at 14.00More details here:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1548015378669?aff=oddtdtcreator If you want more details use the contact form, link on the top right corner of this page. * * * * * * *Continue reading “Red Vienna: A Radical Walk”

Sandleiten Gemeindebau, Vienna

It is not obvious that there are over 1,500 apartments in the Sandleiten estate, housing perhaps 5 – 6,000 people. There is a powerful sense of air, light, space, nature. The original planning and architectural principles of Rote Wien are well expressed. The estate was built in phases between 1924 – 29 and is theContinue reading “Sandleiten Gemeindebau, Vienna”

Josef Wiedenhofer Hof

A Sunday Afternoon Walk. On the Hernalser Hauptstrasse there is a Turkish baker’s that sells the most delicious bread rolls and Mohnkuchen. The inside of the bread is as fluffy as one imagines a cloud to be. The outer crust just the right amount of crisp. I slice through the bread rolls and spread thickContinue reading “Josef Wiedenhofer Hof”

Goethehof, Vienna: First Impressions

What follows is just a word-sketch of an afternoon visit to Goethehof in Vienna. I have flawed conversational German, have never visited any archive in Vienna (although I would like to) and have access to only a small number of books while I’m staying in the city. But sometimes impressions can be useful in termsContinue reading “Goethehof, Vienna: First Impressions”