• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - Johnny\'s Pub Quiz
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun

25. 02. 13. - 12:00

• more Panorama news
• RSS Feed Panorama

25. 02. 13. - 12:00

Air defense tower becomes computer centre

Long discussions have now led to a revival of the air defense towers (Flakturm) in Arenbergpark in Vienna-Landstrasse. Next year, the smaller tower will be used as a computer centre and the bigger one will be used for exhibitions by the MAK museum.

An IT company rented the smaller tower and is planning to use it as a computer centre. They will invest eight million Euros in the project. The bigger tower or "MAK-Tower" has been used for a depot of contemporary art and will now also be used for exhibitions.

The MAK museum is planning exhibitions of contemporary art for next year. The tower is currently closed due to adaptations.

Peter Noever, the former director of the museum, suggested the building of a bar at the roof of the tower. His plans have, however, been dropped, which pleases a civil initiative that protested against the project.

The six air defense towers of Vienna were built in World War II by NS-architect Friedrich Tamms. There are still two towers in Augarten, two in Arenbergpark and one each in the Stiftskaserne and in Esterhazypark.

The architect chose to build two towers next to each other: there were air and missile defense guns at the turret and facilities such as radio and floodlights on the other tower.

However, the towers could not be used as they were supposed to: the allied forces flew very high and thus out of reach of the tower. The towers became more significant as buildings used for air-raid protection: the walls are seven metres wide and the towers have a self-sufficient power and water supply.

Nowadays, the towers are protected buildings and, according to a study of the City of Vienna in 2002, they shall keep their status of a war memorial.

Vienna Times

Elton John - Vienna concert tonight
Elton John is performing at the Stadthalle this evening.

Bathing ban remains on Donauinsel
Swimmers looking to escape the heat wave have been warned to avoid the Donauinsel because of possible infection.

Emergency doctors and security at the Donauinselfest
Security and emergency services will be working around the clock at the 30th Donauinselfest in Vienna this weekend as 200 acts take to the stage.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Heat causes damage to the West motorway
High temperatures have caused damage to the A1 "Westautobahn" motorway from Lower-Austria to Vienna.

Red Light Process starts again in Vienna
The so-called "Red Light Process" is being continued in the regional court in Vienna today.

Gay pride in the sunshine
More than 150,000 people took part in the 18th edition of the Vienna gay pride parade this weekend.

Registration for Vienna Childrens Uni now open
The children’s university (Kinderuni Wien) from July 8 to 20 will offer a variety of seminars, presentations and workshops.

Father saves his son from pool
A three-year-old who almost drowned in a pool accident in Waidhofen an der Thaya (Lower-Austria) was narrowly saved by his father.