Global - Neutral

The exhibition “Global – Neutral” follows in 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 context. Political upheavals and new alliances changed the world – many newly founded states in Asia and Africa became important venues for international architecture and urban development projects. Architecture and urban planning also reflected political attitudes in a newly emerging world order. Austrian architects operated from a special position in this context: 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. However, their projects—in countries such as Burkina Faso, India, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Nepal, and Tanzania—were also interwoven with political, economic, and cultural interests: they were part of development programs, served as symbols of diplomatic rapprochement, and were venues for transnational cooperation.

Opening: April 15, 2026, 7 p.m.

Discussion: September 2, 2026, 6 p.m.
Speakers: Eugen Gross, Carl Pruscha, Shahrzad Seradj-Kraupp, Gunter Wratzfeld, moderated by Monika Platzer and Susanne Rick

Curator-led tour: September 8, 2026, 5 p.m.

Dialogue tour: September 22, 2026, 5 p.m. with Erich Raith

Exhibition tour: September 29, 2026, 5 p.m.