Gasometer

The Gasometer City is a remarkable example of innovative architectural transformation. Originally constructed between 1896 and 1899 as part of the municipal gas works, these four gasholder houses, each with a storage capacity of 90,000 cubic meters, were used to supply Vienna with town gas. The buildings, were retired in 1984 due to the transition from town gas to natural gas. However, their striking red-brick facades were preserved, and the structures found new life in the modern era. In 1995, Vienna undertook a remodeling and revitalization of these protected monuments. The chosen designs by architects Jean Nouvel (Gasometer A), Coop Himmelblau (Gasometer B), Manfred Wehdorn (Gasometer C), and Wilhelm Holzbauer (Gasometer D) were completed between 1999 and 2001. Each Gasometer was divided into several zones for living, working, and entertainment and shopping. The shopping centre levels in each Gasometer are connected to the others by skybridges. Today, the Gasometer City is a vibrant urban complex, housing modern apartments, an event hall, a cinema centre, a shopping centre, a student home, Vienna’s municipal archive, offices of telecommunication companies, a kindergarten, schools, medical, and other facilities. Visitors can learn about the new architecture of the Gasometers, the history of the gas works, and alternate uses (like filming location of a James Bond film) during guided tours.