Building history

The University of Art in the Brückenkopf buildings - history and appropriation of a Nazi relic

History

The two buildings at Hauptplatz 6 and 8 used by the University of Art and Design Linz were erected as part of Adolf Hitler's prestige project to transform the city of Linz into a "Führer city". The buildings were constructed from 1940 onwards, but were not completed until after 1945. In order to realize the construction project, expropriations were carried out, including of Jewish residents. Forced labor was also used.

After the Second World War, the building at Hauptplatz 6 was used as a tax office. The Stadtkeller restaurant was also located here. The building at Hauptplatz 8 was initially used by the radio station Rot-Weiß-Rot, later ORF. After the war, the Neue Galerie (Gurlitt Collection), the city archives and the art school were housed there. It was the forerunner of today's art university. From 2017 to 2019, the building was renovated according to the plans of Adolf Krischanitz.

Today, the two bridgehead buildings are a place dedicated to art, education, diversity, discussion, solidarity and reflection.

Building HistoryWorking Group

In 2021, the "Building History Working Group" (Karin Harrasser, Sabrina Kern, Angela Koch, Hubert Lobnig, Moritz Matschke, Gudrun Rath and Rainer Zendron, Wiltrud Hackl; former member: Anja Ellenberger) was formed at the University of Art and Design Linz. The aim of the "Building History Working Group" is to conceptualize a historical contextualization of the buildings, to make the history of the two buildings affected by National Socialism visible to the outside world, to implement permanent memorial signs on the façade as well as theme-specific events and exhibitions.

Contact the working group: vizerektorat.forschung@kunstuni-linz.at

Activities of the Building History Working Group

Every year on 5 May, on the Day against Violence and Racism in Remembrance of the Victims of National Socialism, commemorative activities are set up.

05.05.2021 / Day against violence and racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism: "Out of the darkness" exhibition in the file cellar

05.05.2022 / Day against violence and racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism: Voices of weight & performative façade installation

Since June 2022: Design of the display case in the arcades, Hauptplatz 6, as a temporary memorial plaque for the historical contextualization of the bridgehead buildings

2022: Publication "Out of the darkness. Buildings and places as actors of remembrance"

April 2023: Removal of the plaque on the western bridgehead building commemorating the architect Roderich Fick

05.05.2023 / Day against violence and racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism: Conference "NS history in the gutter. Comics as a medium of remembrance"

05.05.2023-05.05.2024 / Day against violence and racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism: Naming of the inner courtyard, Hauptplatz 8, after the comic artist Lily Renée, who fled from Austria via Great Britain to the USA in 1938 to escape the National Socialists

05.05.-11.05.2023 / Day against violence and racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism: "konsequenz der treue" exhibition

June 2023: Revocation of Herbert Koller's honorary membership

24.09.2023: Participation in the Day of the Monument, guided tour on the topic of "The University of Art in the Brückenkopf buildings - history and appropriation of a Nazi relic"

25.10.2023: Inauguration of Lily-Renée-Hof

18.06.2024: Inauguration of the memorial inscription at Hauptplatz 6 and book presentation "Ver/störende Orte. On dealing with Nazi-contaminated buildings"
The Nazi history of the Brückenkopf buildings has been the subject of temporary interventions in recent years. In view of the monumentality and the fact that the buildings are designed to endure, it is important to us to carve an inscription into the granite of the plinth that recalls the Nazi history and stands up against anti-Semitism. It is also a call for anti-racism, diversity, discussion and solidarity with those persecuted. The memorial inscription on the building at Hauptplatz 6 was designed by the Building History Working Group. The graphic design is by Alexander Glandien, the engraving was realized by the company Strasser Steine.

Further events

Exhibitions: Persecution and Enlightenment. The first generation of Holocaust research, October 2020

Conference: Disturbing places. Dealing with Nazi-contaminated buildings, November 2021

March 22, 2023, 7 p.m.: Art project / attempt at symmetry
8. September 2023, 9.15 pm: Essay on symmetry @ Kunstuni Campus
Kunstuniversität Linz, Fassade Hauptplatz 6 und 8, 4020 Linz
A site-specific project by Hubert Lobnig and Moritz Matschke, Department of Artistic Practice