Foto Österreichisches Kulturinstitut New York

Richard Kriesche, Artist
Quotation:
"The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
does not need the Austrian Cultural Institute
in New York.
The Austrian Cultural Institute in New York
does need the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra."



Heinz Wondra
Report on the architecture

The Austrian Cultural Institute in New York is not primarily an object for architects to portray themselves but an expression of an attitude towards Austrian creative producers, how they want to be presented and seen abroad.
The topic of the task is not the reputation of the Austrian Republic, or if so, it should be done by presenting artists achievements and not by defining the looks of a building in New York.
An open house with all the possible technical equipment, adaptable to future developments, simple in structure, efficient in function and complex in its spatial organisation that's what the Austrian Cultural Institute should be up to.
Austria is a small country in a big world. It is appropriate to make a modest reference to the host country curious, critical, yet self confident.


Interactive Wall of Light
The west facing wall is designed to support a light installation. Behind glass, white and red fluorescent tubes are to be fitted on a structure.
Activity sensors seize activity inside the building and pass the corresponding impulses to the wall of light control system, making it the medium to reflect the activities of the Austrian Cultural Institute.
At official events, instead of hoisting flags, the red fluorescent tubes are switched on in addition to the white ones:
The Wall of Light turns into the Red-White-Red of the Austrian emblem of sovereignity.