Publications
“Mapping Austrofascism” and Beyond : Report on the Digital Research Lab Campus Medius
A digital mapping project, 'Mapping Austrofascism,' innovatively combines cartography with cultural studies to explore historical events through interactive visualization. Initially focusing on 15 key events in Vienna over a weekend in 1933, the project now centers on an Austrofascist celebration at Schönbrunn Palace, offering multi-perspective views including bird's-eye and street-level perspectives mediated by five experts. The research leverages theoretical frameworks like 'dispositif' and 'actor-network' to model its technological infrastructure and data, aiming to create a scalable platform for visualizing media experiences in everyday life. This approach bridges historical analysis with digital humanities, providing a dynamic tool for understanding complex socio-political events.
Bureaucratic architecture: Josephist attempts to reform the public works administration in the Habsburg Monarchy in the 1780s
Joseph II's reforms in the Habsburg Monarchy during the 1780s significantly reshaped public works administration, particularly for imperial buildings and gardens. The study reveals that under his leadership, the Court Board of Works (Hofbauamt) faced pressure to complete ongoing projects swiftly and at reduced costs while adhering to strict financial constraints. Unlike his mother, Maria Theresa, Joseph II demanded immediate updates on construction progress and prioritized essential expenses only for maintenance. This shift marked a departure from previous administrative practices, emphasizing efficiency and fiscal responsibility in public works. The research draws on historical records, including the Hofbauamt's structure and its role under both rulers, to illustrate how bureaucratic reforms influenced architectural governance during this period.
Campus Medius: Digitales Kartografieren in den Kulturund Medienwissenschaften/Digital Mapping in Cultural and Media Studies by Simon Ganahl
The digital mapping project 'Campus Medius' offers a novel approach to understanding the relational patterns of space, time, and value through innovative hypertext and visual strategies. By focusing on a 24-hour period in Vienna during the Austrofascist regime's 'Turks Deliverance Celebration' in May 1933, the project uses digital cartography to reflect upon the 'medial atmosphere' and narrativity of this historical moment. It integrates theoretical frameworks such as Mikhail Bakhtin's 'chronotope,' Foucault-Deleuze's 'dispositif,' and Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory to analyze networks of power and knowledge, providing a media-archaeological perspective from the 17th century to the present. The project exemplifies how digital tools can be used to trace and interpret complex historical data, offering significant insights into the intersection of theory and technical implementation in cultural and media studies.
The East Asian Cabinets at Schönbrunn Palace and their Archive Sources
Research on the East Asian Cabinets at Schönbrunn Palace reveals significant gaps and breakthroughs in their documented history. While records from 1740 to 1772 are fragmented, allowing only scattered insights into the cabinets' creation in 1760, later inventories (1803, 1812) and detailed archives from the Palace Department Schönbrunn (starting 1779) provide a precise account of their restoration history and subsequent decorative changes. The study highlights the role of the Obersthofmeisteramt, which approved all requests related to the cabinets, offering a nuanced understanding of their evolution and maintenance over centuries.
The decorative in urban Vienna: Its preservation
Vienna's urban landscape, rooted in its Roman and medieval heritage, has evolved through centuries of architectural transformations, including the construction of fortifications, the expansion of gardens, and the development of the Ringstraße. The city's decorative elements—such as pavings, lighting, railings, and symbolic ornaments—reflect a rich history of artistic creation and urban planning. A key finding is the critical role of historic preservation in maintaining Vienna's unique character, highlighted by Camillo Sitte's advocacy for retaining historic details and the cancellation of plans that would have modernized the city at the expense of its heritage. The study also examines the materials used in Viennese decorations, such as stone, lime plaster, stucco, Roman cement, brickwork, and glazed tiles, and their conservation challenges. It notes the impact of speculative tall buildings on protected areas like Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996) and the Ringstraße, which threatens the city's skyline and historic context. The research combines historical analysis with scientific examination to address issues such as façadism and aggressive modern architecture.
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