The Permanent Collection at the Architekturzentrum Wien

The Permanent Collection of the Architekturzentrum Wien opened providing insights into the most significant and extensive collection of Austrian architecture of the 20th and 21st centuries. The focus is on the investigation of key objects, both high-profile and lesser-known items. Seven hot questions bring cold storage to life.

The Architekturzentrum Wien is the only museum in Austria devoted exclusively to architecture. The new Permanent Collection of the Az W replaces the existing ‘a_show’, which opened back in 2004. While the 'a_show’ shows the whole story of architecture in Austria brilliantly in a chronological order the display is largely based on reproductions. As the Az W Collection has expanded over the last 17 years and consists of over 85 architects' estates as well as an extensive collections of individual projects, a large number of objects are being shown for the first time in the new Permanent Collection Hot Questions — Cold Storage.
Selected models, drawings, furniture, fabrics, documents and films develop new threads in seven thematic episodes. Each episode is preceded by one of today’s burning issues, from the impact of globalisation on our towns and villages, or the question of how we want to live, to the contribution that architecture can make to our survival on this planet. At the same time, 'Cold Storage' provides visitors with a view behind the scenes, in all the activities involved working in a collection.