Anti-immigrant conceptual architecture project,
Simmering, Vienna, Austria
Historically, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Vienna from imperceptible site, located at the periphery of Europe becomes an important player due to its geopolitical and geo-economic location in the crossroad between East and West. This factor becomes even more noticeable after the entry of Austria into the European Union in 1995 and its expansion after 2004.
In the ‘90s the municipality of Vienna decided to develop the urban area of Erdberger mais / Aspanggrunde in the southern part of town. This traditional industrial zone increasingly shifts to service sector especially after the closure of the slaughterhouse in St. Marx in 1997. That is the reason for the municipality to seek opportunities to build more residential and commercial buildings and shops. The plans include also a double increase of the housing development currently at 1.2 million square meters, as the region is expected to have 13,500 to 16,000 inhabitants and around 45,000 to 53,000 employees. That means that by the end of the project jobs will increase three times, and residents by 60%.
At the same time recognizing that the availability of jobs could be focal point, massive waves of Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants are expected, especially after the accession of those two countries in the EU in 2007 and the possibility of free movement of their citizens within the borders of Europe. Characteristic of human exchange flows south of Vienna (from the station of Simmering trains with European Gypsies were heading to concentration camps and for the first time here Yugo gastarbeiters set their foot in the ‘60s) would be ideal for establishing these migrants; moreover they would be welcomed by those of earlier waves. All this would have an outcome similar to Bijlmermeer in Amsterdam and the region is in danger of losing their Austrian identity.
More strongly felt this would be in the area of allotment gardens Dauerkleingartenanlage Simmeringer Haide and Klg Gazwerk in the heart of Simmering. Situated in the highest point of Vienna and in combination with the perfect infrastructure and good residential conditions, along with its historical and cultural heritage predetermines their general attractiveness.Established after World War I, the allotment gardens help to improve the lives of citizens in poor socio-economic position, taking an important role in food security of the city. Much more important is the significance of allotment gardens to preserve the ethnic spirit of the Viennese and their relationship with their roots. Primordial idea of these "domestic gardens” was for them to be the place where children grow in a clean environment, in harmony with nature and love of fatherland; and only later they have become places for growing flowers and vegetables.
Here comes the clash of the ‘Green Island’, carrying the local spirit, with the surrounding hostile environment of foreigners, other cultures and languages.
Inspired by the fortified houses in Svaneti province in Georgia, the tower houses in Vratza( Bulgaria ) and the flak towers in Vienna the project Heimat (protect your family) is designed for the region of Dauerkleingartenanlage Simmeringer Haide and Klg Gazwerk as a conceptual architectural model building, a self-secured module, guaranteeing comfort of his inhabitants in times of peace and at the same time protection in cases of invasion. Every module consists of 4 mobile buildings, which can be regrouped in a unified protection block. The folded building’s dimensions are 11m /11m /15 m and inside at least four families could dwell.
They provide perfect visibility over the area and together with the other buildings permit a round defense to be ensured. In peacetime the individual buildings are partially buried in the ground, but during the attacks they are assembled by a hydraulic system, leaving deep trenches, which can be flooded and electrically charged. It is also intended to go anti-personnel and anti-vehicle obstacles. The third security round protects the building itself. The four buildings themselves in the tower formation have long narrow windows in the external points of contact, forming embrasures from where the defenders can strafe the area. Additional difficulties for the invaders represent the numerous entrances, and vertical access to the premises, which can easily be turned into dead-ends and traps. On the other hand, multiple outputs allow defenders to withdraw quickly and unnoticed out of the building and to save their beloved ones.
