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Wotruba Church

Vienna, Austria
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The Wotruba Church was built between 1974 and 1976 according to plans by the Austrian artist and sculptor Fritz Wotruba. It consists of 152 naked blocks of concrete that are arranged in a seemingly loose way, opening gaps that are filled with glass and that allow light to enter the building.The official name of the Wotrubakirche is "Filialkirche zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit Mauer".

The design of the artist Wotruba was made a technical plan by the architect Fritz Gerhard Mayer, who usually remains unmentioned. Fritz Wotruba himself died in 1975 and could therefore not participate in the opening of the church.

The Wotruba Church looks like a pile of rocks: There is no intentional front side, the 152 concrete blocks have to decoration or ornaments. The smallest one is 0.84 cubic meters big and weighs 1.84 tons, the biggest block is 64 cubic metres big and weights an enormous 141 tons. The highest block is 13.1 metres above the ground level. Wotruba wanted to build a church that invites visitors to remain and meditate. The windows consist of simple and undecorated glass and make the Wotrubakirche lighter than one would expect it to be from the outside.

The bundles of light that enter the building through several of the gaps between the blocks often overlap and create changing patters. The altar is made of artificial marble and has matching chandeliers made of bronze. In the wall behind the altar, you see a crucifix made of bronze that is a cast from a crucifix that Fritz Wotruba designed for the Hofkirche in Bruchsal, Germany.

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ziggurat, February 8th, 2015
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