| Summary: | Vienna boasts of some 20 large-scale housing estates with more than 400 flats, which were erected between 1962 and 1983 by applying prefabricated construction. These apartment blocks, most of which are located in the outskirts of the city, serve the purpose of social housing. Considering that the municipality had built large housing complexes since the "Red Vienna" era (1919-1934), the constructions of the 1960s and 1970s may be perceived as the continuity of a long-standing tradition (since the blocks completed between 1980 and 1983 were planned in the 1970s, their concept and design can be attributed to that period too). As far as their architecture is concerned, however, the new estates laid out according to modernist principles have little in common with their interwar predecessors. None of these buildings have been demolished until this date. In fact, they are much appreciated by their residents and the city administration flaunts them just like the "Red Vienna" buildings, which have been listed as historical monuments one after the other since 2000. However, there can be no talk of a heritage status for this category of housing estates, even though there are attempts to raise awareness for this architectural testimony of the late industrial age. This article examines Vienna’s prefabricated housing estates against the backdrop of social democratic urban policies; further it analyses their perception, pointing out the factors that speak against heritage consideration as well as those in favour.
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