Dezeen Wire: Austrian architect Günther Domenig, one of the founding partners of Graz studio Domenig & Wallner, has passed away at the age of 77.
He most famously designed the Z-bank in Vienna, as well as his own house at Lake Ossiach.
See all our stories about architecture and design in Austria »
Here's a statement from fellow Austrian architect Wolf D. Prix of Coop Himmelb(l)au:
Domenig and the Austrian Architecture
On YouTube the famous American Rapper Ice Cube can be viewed while he is explaining the Eames House in LA in a competent way. I am questioning myself, whether a similar scene would be possible in Austria: DJ Ötzi or the Trackshittaz explain Günther Domenigs Steinhaus. Answer: no.
The word “important” as preliminary stage to being a star is used in an inflationary way today. Nevertheless I insist that Günther Domenig was one of the most important Austrian architects.
Important in terms of being weighty. In my opinion the former Z-Bank branch in the Favoritenstraße in Vienna was one of his best buildings.
Long before the convoluted computer architects started using parametric tools to give their lame design a boost, Domenig had not only designed the first threedimensional facade, but actually built it, too.
Himself, he has never differed from architecture and art, has been able to achieve a building that is uncompromising – located in the baroque thought - creating expressive space sequences and therefore connotes an important contribution to the Austrian Architecture.
It’s amazing, that this building has only been possible in a peripheral district, and not in the city center of Vienna.