16.04.2026 – 05.10.2026
“Global – Neutral” traces the footsteps of Austrian architects who worked in African and Asian countries between 1955 and 1989 – a period of global political upheaval in which many states gained independence from colonial powers and international cooperation was shaped by the Cold War. In the second half of the 20th century, architecture increasingly took on a global dimension. Political upheavals and new alliances transformed the world – many newly founded states in Asia and Africa became key venues for international architectural and urban development projects. In doing so, architecture and urban planning also reflected political stances within an emerging world order. In this context, Austrian female architects operated from a unique position: due to their country’s political neutrality, they did not act as representatives of an ideological bloc, but as seemingly independent partners without a colonial past. Plans, photographs and models from the Az W’s extensive collection bring these multifaceted connections to light. Drawing on completed and planned projects by some 25 Austrian architects, including Carl Auböck, Djamshid Farassat, Eugen Gross, Eva Mang-Frimmel and Karl Mang, Norbert Heltschl, Hans Hollein, Helene Koller-Buchwieser, Shahrzad Seradj-Kraupp, Hannes Lintl, Carl Pruscha, Roland Rainer and Anton Schweighofer, the exhibition “Global – Neutral” opens up new perspectives on Austrian architecture at the intersection of politics, culture and globalisation.
Global – Neutral: Austrian Architecture in Africa and Asia 1955–1989
16.04.2026 – 05.10.2026
Architekturzentrum Wien
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Vienna
https://www.azw.at
