Description
The architectural drawings by Gottfried Semper and Carl von Hasenauer are for a building that was used as a depot or storage
area for the stage sets utilized in the imperial court theaters in Vienna, Austria. Included are designs for the building's
façade and drawings detailing technical aspects such as roof trusses and pulleys.
Background
Gottfried Semper (1803-1879), who was born in Hamburg, Germany, studied both in Germany and France, traveled for three years
to Italy and Greece, and worked as an architect and teacher in Germany, England, Switzerland, and Austria. He designed the
Dresden Opera House and contributed to the re-design of the Ringstrasse in Vienna. His publication, Die fier Elemente der Baukunst (The Four Elements of Architecture) (1851) remains a canonical text of the 19th century. He is also known for the theoretical work Der Stil in den technischen und tektonischen Künsten oder praktische Aesthetik (Style in the Industrial and Structural Arts,
or Practical Aesthetics) (1860-1863). He participated in some of the major architectural debates of his day, including that surrounding the use of
polychrome decoration in ancient Greek buildings.