Despite all the uncertainty about whether the future federal government will keep the promises made to create a new location for the House of Austrian History (hdgö) in the MuseumsQuartier Vienna, planning is progressing. However, it seems certain: The relocation of the contemporary history museum, currently housed in the Neue Burg at Heldenplatz, will be more expensive than the 39.5 million euros estimated based on the feasibility study.

"A 'House of the Republic' Should Be Visible"

On Tuesday evening, the project was presented to the residents at the district council of Vienna-Neubau - a planned procedure for the necessary amendment of the land use and development plan. However, this is said to be comparatively marginal - as the monument protection and the protection of the world heritage of Vienna's inner city have thwarted two hoped-for major interventions. They concern accessibility and visibility.

The facade of the 1862 building part of the MuseumsQuartier facing Mariahilfer Straße will not be opened, except for the enlargement of an existing ground floor window as an escape route. "The integrity of the building structure has priority," said architect Cristian Abrihan, who, with his office for building cultural heritage, has examined the monument protection compatibility of the project, in conversation with the APA. Access is exclusively via the small monastery courtyard, where a development building will be erected. This is four stories high - and hides behind the roof ridge.

Not only hdgö director Monika Sommer, but also the district chairman of Vienna-Neubau, Markus Reiter (Greens), would have wished for a clearer architectural sign. "I believe it would have been feasible. A 'House of the Republic' should be visible," said Reiter, who hopes to at least create a connection between the urban space and the museum on the adjacent Platz der Menschenrechte, which was not part of the architectural competition.

District for Better Visibility and Accessibility

A higher execution of the development building, which could not only have a signal character as a "History Tower" but also allow a view into the depths from the height of time, was examined but was not approvable, assured Markus Penell from the competition winner, the architectural office O&O Baukunst. At least the idea of the reading tower once planned in the main courtyard could experience a revival as a new green landmark of the area as part of the MuseumsQuartier's climate initiative, said the architect and surprised with the statement: "The foundations of the reading tower are already there."

But even without widely visible landmarks, the construction of the new hdgö location, which is set to open in the fall of 2028, is a major project. This is partly due to the current users of the area. While the Karst and Cave Working Group of the Natural History Museum can be relocated without issue, a new rehearsal space must be created for the children's and youth theater, Dschungel Wien. It will be the luxury version. The construction of a hall located under the Fürstenhof and ideally connected underground to the other rooms of the Dschungel could consume about a quarter of the total construction costs.

External Office Spaces Rented

On the other hand, the hdgö can almost triple its current exhibition space to 3,060 sqm, but still faces space issues. "The additional spaces required for a functioning museum, such as offices, workshops, and collection depots, cannot be realized in this building," was stated in the feasibility study. For the client, MQ Managing Director Bettina Leidl, this is not a problem: "Practically all museums have their depots somewhere outside. And in the vicinity of the Museumsquartier, there are enough offices within walking distance that can be rented."

This has already been done. After seven new positions were approved for the hdgö last year to prepare for the move, office spaces were rented on Mariahilfer Straße. These will not be sufficient. Monika Sommer, who also regrets not having her own museum café in the future ("That is international standard!"), expects that at least half more full-time equivalents than currently will be needed for the operation of the then considerably expanded museum, thus around 50 people.

Operating Costs Likely to Be Higher

In addition to the previously estimated project costs, rental costs for offices, depots, and workshops, as well as replacement spaces for the Dschungel during the renovation period, will be added. Future operating costs are also likely to be higher than currently. If the hdgö were to be separated from the Austrian National Library association as an independent federal museum, this would incur additional costs for establishing independent structures.

Bettina Leidl does not believe that all these considerations could be overturned by radical austerity plans of a new government, whatever they may look like. After all, there is a cabinet decision and a corresponding item of 27.7 million euros in the Federal Financial Framework Act 2024-2027. "So far, this has not been questioned anywhere. We are continuing to work on the project as planned." At the hdgö, they are currently working on the space function planning. A preliminary draft for this is expected to be available by mid-March. Until then, statements can still be submitted in the procedure for amending the land use and development plan.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.