Façade relief – Audimax TU Wien


SCULPTOR KURT OHNSORG (1927–1970) CREATED A FRIEZE CONSISTING OF WHITE, CONICAL PORCELAIN RODS FOR THE POLYGONAL FAÇADE OF THE AUDITORIUM MAXIMUM. THE STRAIGHT AND CURVED ELEMENTS ARE ARRANGED TO CREATE A REPETITIVE OR BROKEN PATTERN. THEY FORM A RHYTHM ON THE BRICK FAÇADE AND CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF AN INSCRIPTION OF SORTS.

Before restoration commenced in 2015, the piece was dirty and had mechanical damage. Some of the 760 porcelain elements had broken off and many others were loose owing to the faulty original anchoring in the wall. Therefore, for safety reasons, all those elements that were in danger of falling off were removed, documented and cleaned using a low pressure cleaning method.

Although the work was completed in 1970, 50 original porcelain elements were found in a storage facility of TU Wien. Thanks to their good condition, these elements were used to replace some of the lost parts. The rest were reconstructed in such a way that they would resemble the existing elements in density, colour and texture.

After the façade was cleaned, the elements were reaffixed and the anchors connecting them to the wall replaced. To round off the renovation work, the brick façade underwent some complementary measures; in particular, missing sections of the window jambs were replaced in accordance with the original appearance.