alban berg sculpture by coop himmelb(l)au to be built outside the vienna state opera
image © markus pillhofer

 

 

 

wolf d. prix and sophie c. grell of coop himmelb(l)au have designed a sculpture to be erected in front of the vienna state opera, one of the austrian capital’s most prominent sites. the piece will be built by the alban berg foundation for the composers of the viennese school – alban berg, arnold schönberg, anton webern – and the composer and court opera principal gustav mahler.

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
the piece will be built by the alban berg foundation for the composers of the viennese school
image © markus pillhofer

 

 

 

elevated on a pedestal, the ‘alban berg sculpture’ features a polished metal exterior that not only provides permanent surface quality, but also guarantees easy cleaning and repair. influenced by musical scores, coop himmelb(l)au’s design reacts with elegant loops to the expressive lines of music, creating a profound monument to the composers of the viennese school.

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
elevated on a pedestal, the design features a polished metal surface
image © markus pillhofer

 

 

 

alban berg was an austrian composer of the second viennese school who wrote renowned operas such as ‘wozzeck’ and ‘lulu’. his work is inextricably linked with the names of his fellow campaigners, such as his teacher arnold schönberg, his colleague and friend anton webern, and gustav mahler, who created the basis for the viennese school of new music with his compositional work.

 

work on the sculpture is set to start in february 2016, with construction scheduled to last around three months.

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
the exterior not only provides permanent surface quality, but also guarantees easy cleaning and repair
image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
the sculpture will be complete by may 2016
image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
concept sketch
image © wolf d. prix, sophie c. grell / coop himmelb(l)au

coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix alban berg sculpture vienna austria
the design is influenced by musical scores
image © wolf d. prix, sophie c. grell / coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

project info:

 

client: alban berg foundation, vienna, austria
planning: coop himmelb(l)au wolf d. prix & partner zt gmbh
design principal/ceo: wolf d. prix
project partner: markus pillhofer
design architects: wolf d. prix, sophie c. grell
project architect: markus pillhofer
project team: friedrich hähle, jörg hugo, markus pillhofer
model building: win man

 

coordination: werner baumüller/werkstatt kollerschlag
structural engineering: b+g ingenieure, bollinger und grohmann gmbh, frankfurt, germany
lighting design: erco lighting gmbh vienna, austria

 

start of planning: april, 2015
start of construction: february, 2016
completion: may, 2016