- Sanatorium Purkersdorf
The Sanitarium Purkersdorf was built as a
Sanitarium inPurkersdorf . It was built in 1904-05 by the architectJosef Hoffmann for the industrialist Victor Zuckerkandl and is an example of the style of theViennese Secession in architecture.anatorium
Zuckerkandl, the general director of the Silesian Iron Work of Gliwice, purchased the property at the city border of Vienna in 1903. It was acquired as a "mineral spa together with cure-park." [http://www.purkersdorf-online.at/kultur/sanatorium.php3 Accessed 26 April 2007.] Since the 19th Century a mineral spring bubbled on the property. The original furnishing were made by the
Wiener Werkstätte with which the architect Hoffmann was involved. The ownership and management of the sanatorium were lost in the course of theAryanization of 1938. [Stefan Peters, "Löchrige Geschichte", http://www.purkersdorf-online.at/kultur/sanatorium/arisierung.php3 Accessed 26 April 2007.]The sanitarium was more of a hotel than hospital and turned into a social and artistic venue of Viennese society. [http://www.nextroom.at/building_article.php?building_id=2356&article_id=3684 Accessed 26 April 2007.] Among the treatments were mineral baths, physical therapies, therapeutic massages and physiotherapy. Convalescence cases and mental illnesses were especially treated in the upper classes. Through silence, light and air, and the rationality of the facility with ornament reduced to a minimum, cures of the new illnesses such as
nervousness , andhysteria were sought. Also provided were reading rooms, a playroom for card games, table tennis, billiard and music-rooms for the entertainment of the guests.In 1926, against the will of Josef Hoffmann, the architect Leopold Bauer heightened the building with another floor, [http://www.austrianhandicrafts.com/eng/lexikon/werkstaetten/werke/purkersdorf_2.htm Accessed 26 April 2006.] which impaired the original artistic conception.
After the death Victor Zuckerkandls in 1927 the sanitarium was inherited to his nephews and nieces. From 1930, a son-in-law continued the business with little success. Trude Zuckerkandl tried in 1938 to restore the ailing business. [Stefan Peters, "Löchrige Geschichte", http://www.purkersdorf-online.at/kultur/sanatorium/arisierung.php3 Accessed 26 April 2007.] Before an economic recuperation, Austria's "
Anschluss " took place and in March 1938 was the Aryanization. Towards the end of World War II, the building served as a military hospital. In 1945, it was requisitioned by the Russian occupying forces. [http://www.austrianhandicrafts.com/eng/lexikon/werkstaetten/werke/purkersdorf_2.htm Accessed 26 April 2006.]Hospital
The Protestant church acquired the building 1952 and rebuilt it as hospital. A part of the facility was used as nursing home. The old pavilions had to be rebuilt because of dilapidation. The business was discontinued in the year 1975. The buildings and park remained long unused and fell into disrepair.
Restoration
In 1995 an external renovation took place, whereby the upper floor added by Leopold Bauer was removed and the original appearance was restored. On the inside cultural festivities took place and in the years 1996 to 2001
Paulus Manker 's "Alma – A Show biz ans Ende" about the life of theAlma Mahler -Werfel was filmed there. The necessary interior renovation was finally carried out in the year 2003 and it is now used as a senior care home.References
External links
* [http://woka.com/infos/deutsch/designer/purkersdorf.asp Sanatorium Purkersdorf D/E bei WOKA"]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
