06.03.2025 – 04.08.2025
They are part of the American way of life and countless series are set in this métier, such as Desperate Housewives or The Wonder Years – the Suburbs. The exhibition Suburbia at the AzW traces the history of an ideal of life that – starting in the US suburbs – has conquered the world and is constantly reproduced by popular media. At the same time, the exhibition analyses the contradictions of this model and its social and ecological consequences such as land consumption, sealing and vacancies. The big question is: Where do we go from here? The exhibition curated by Philipp Engel for the CCCB was adapted for the AzW and expanded to include a focus on Austria. Even in this country, a large proportion of people still want to realise their own version of this dream on the outskirts of the city. According to a recent study by BOKU, the proportion of highly urbanised areas in Austria increased fivefold between 1975-2020 – in particular due to detached single-family homes, large-scale commercial areas and shopping centres. As a result, traffic areas are destroying the landscape, rapidly increasing sealing is threatening biodiversity and food security, town centres are becoming deserted and people in an ageing society are slipping into isolation. The image of half-abandoned, ageing houses and settlements characterises many parts of the country. Instead of building new ones, the question arises as to how the existing stock of these 1.5 million single-family homes can be utilised for the future. Successful examples of conversions, repurposing, redensification or new forms of living and working are intended to demonstrate the enormous potential and attractive alternatives. With a wealth of historical material, photographs, films, literature, artistic works and everyday objects, the exhibition tells the story of the best-selling detached house and invites visitors to reflect on the future prospects of this form of housing.
Suburbia – Life in the American Dream
06.03.2025 – 04.08.2025
Architekturzentrum Wien
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Vienna
https://www.azw.at
