david altrath photographs vienna's palmenhaus in analog stills of light, foliage and form

david altrath captures vienna’s palmenhaus in film series

In the fourth chapter of his ongoing photographic series Greenhouse, German photographer David Altrath turns his lens on Vienna’s historic Palmenhaus, a monumental glass-and-steel structure from the late 19th century. Through Altrath’s cinematic compositions, the Palmenhaus emerges as a living archive of design, climate, and culture, captured in soft tones.

all images by David Altrath

the images depict the sensory richness of the greenhouse

With Greenhouse pt. 4, Hamburg-based photographer David Altrath reactivates the atmospheric power of the Palmenhaus. His photos invite the viewer to linger, to notice the interplay of structure and growth, of time and temperature.

Originally constructed in 1881/82 on the grounds of the former Dutch Botanical Garden, the Palmenhaus stretches 113 meters and is divided into three interconnected pavilions. The central pavilion rises to 28 meters, its soaring form flanked by two slightly lower wings that together form a sweeping rhythm of arches and iron. This architectural composition is functional and expressive, forming a delicate balance between industrial precision and organic flow.

Each section of the greenhouse hosts a distinct climate zone. A cold house is located in the north, a temperate zone at the core, and a tropical house in the southern wing. This triadic arrangement allows visitors to traverse diverse biomes within one continuous glass expanse. Altrath’s imagery captures the sensory richness of these spaces, dense foliage, filtered light, misted air, all rendered with the subtle texture of analog film.

this is the fourth chapter of Altrath’s ongoing photographic series Greenhouse