A home for technology

Ideas of modernity and splendour in construction are reflected in the Technisches Museum Wien (Vienna Museum of Science and Technology). Is this a mere coincidence or an intentional play with architecture? Technology has always been, and still is, understood as a bearer of hope for the future. How did this idea influence the architecture – the “clothing” – of the museum and what effect does it have on the exhibition spaces?
 
This architectural tour of the museum is dedicated to the wide range of artistic processes between concept and building structure. It shows the museum from a different perspective, placing a focus on details that are easily overlooked due to the building’s size. Paths, arranged like coordinate axes, along epochs and industry sectors give an idea of the spirit of times past, alluding to the relationship between nature and technology while also referencing modern architecture.
Structural alterations in the 1990s also enabled a contemporary use of the museum in terms of architectural design, breaking the original spatial concepts, especially in height. Today’s exhibition spaces – especially those for a young audience – are designed to give visitors room to move and participate.