david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church

david alrath photographs 1970s brutalist Church in vienna

 

In the latest of his architectural photography series, Hamburg-based photographer David Altrath‘s lens frames the Wotruba Church, a landmark of brutalism in Vienna. The building, envisioned by the Austrian sculptor Fritz Wotruba and realized by the architect Fritz Gerhard Mayr, is composed of 152 raw concrete blocks in varied shapes and sizes, with the tallest reaching 13.1 meters. Mayr meticulously realized the sculptor’s vision, assembling the blocks in an unconventional, staggered arrangement that gives the structure a powerful, monolithic presence while revealing the unadorned surfaces typical of brutalist aesthetics.

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
all images by David Altrath

 

 

glass filters the light amid Wotruba Church’s concrete blocks

 

Completed in 1976, the abstract, sculptural form of the church departs from traditional ecclesiastical design, emphasizing mass and asymmetry. David Altrath’s photography depicts the interplay of natural light and shadow within the minimalist interior of the Wotruba Church, where simple glass panels set between raw concrete blocks filter light that casts dynamic beams across the austere space. This interplay animates the otherwise sparse environment, enhancing the serene, contemplative atmosphere that Fritz Wotruba envisioned. The careful integration of light and form reflects his belief in finding beauty in simplicity, creating a space for reflection.

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
David Altrath‘s lens frames the Wotruba Church

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
envisioned by the Austrian sculptor Fritz Wotruba and realized by the architect Fritz Gerhard Mayr

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
simple glass panels set between raw concrete blocks filter light

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
152 raw concrete blocks in varied shapes and sizes compose the structure

david-altrath-lens-raw-concrete-blocks-brutalist-church-austria-designboom-1800-01

the structure features a powerful, monolithic presence

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
David Altrath’s photography depicts the interplay of natural light and shadow within the minimalist interior

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
Mayr meticulously realized the sculptor’s vision

david altrath's lens frames layered raw concrete blocks in austrian brutalist church
the blocks are assembled in an unconventional, staggered arrangement

david-altrath-lens-raw-concrete-blocks-brutalist-church-austria-designboom-1800-02

revealing the unadorned surfaces typical of brutalist aesthetics

 

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the church was completed in 1976
the church was completed in 1976
the sculptural form of the church departs from traditional ecclesiastical design
the sculptural form of the church departs from traditional ecclesiastical design
emphasizing mass and asymmetry
emphasizing mass and asymmetry
light casts dynamic beams across the austere space
light casts dynamic beams across the austere space
light and shadow interplay animates the otherwise sparse environment
light and shadow interplay animates the otherwise sparse environment
Fritz Wotruba envisioned a serene, contemplative atmosphere
Fritz Wotruba envisioned a serene, contemplative atmosphere
careful integration of light and form reflects the sculptor's belief in finding beauty in simplicity
careful integration of light and form reflects the sculptor's belief in finding beauty in simplicity
creating a space for reflection while merging architectural innovation
creating a space for reflection while merging architectural innovation
the tallest concrete block reaches 13.1 meters
the tallest concrete block reaches 13.1 meters
a landmark of brutalism in Vienna
a landmark of brutalism in Vienna

project info:

 

name: Wotruba Church

photographer: David Altrath | @davidaltrath

architect: Fritz Wotruba & Fritz Gerhard Mayr

location: Vienna, Austria

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