Uncertainty and Vision: 'What Should Happen with the Half-Finished Building?' Exhibition at Vienna's Neue Burg

This exhibition delves into the history of the Neue Burg in Vienna following the end of the monarchy. It explores the uncertainty surrounding the unfinished building and the diverse ideas proposed for its future use, from hotels and casinos to museum and library spaces.

Following the end of the monarchy, the Wiener Hofburg was unexpectedly stripped of its original function. While the older wings housed various offices and residences, the future of the Neue Burg remained uncertain. Its interior construction, halted during World War I, left the young republic unable to afford its completion. A crucial question arose, as highlighted in an article from the 'Neues Wiener Tagblatt' on April 29, 1920: 'One would first have to know what to do with this house before building it; its purpose should determine how to continue the construction.' Proposals for the Neue Burg's future use were abundant, ranging from a palace hotel, a gaming casino, a traditional Austrian wine tavern (Heuriger), a cinema, to a large entertainment establishment. However, the most significant interest came from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Naturhistorisches Museum, and the National Library, all located in the former imperial area and in urgent need of space. The official transfer of the Hofburg to the Austrian federal administration in autumn 1921 marked a first step. Financial utilization took precedence, and the Vienna Trade Fair soon became a temporary tenant. They did not require the completion of all interior spaces, as the grand staircase and adjacent rooms sufficed for presenting the latest goods. The following year, art historian Hans Tietze developed a concept for museum reform for the Ministry of Education. In 1924, the federal government decided to dedicate the Neue Burg to museum and library purposes. To finance the expansion, the state planned to lease the ground floor to a private operator for a café and restaurant. The other floors were to be shared by the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Naturhistorisches Museum, and the National Library. However, the leasing of the ground-floor spaces failed, meaning the future users of the upper floors also had to wait until new funding was secured. The Völkerkundemuseum, now the Weltmuseum Wien, finally began moving in in 1928, but the decades-long 'tug-of-war for the castle' among various museums and institutions had only just begun.

Information regarding ticketing and admission is not directly provided on this page. Visitors interested in accessing the House of Austrian History or its exhibitions are advised to check the official website for current details.