Examines the complexity of postcolonialism through the lens of the work created by Austrian architects in African and Asian countries between 1955 and 1989.
Global—Neutral embarks on an architectural search for traces in postcolonial contexts. It documents buildings and projects by Austrian architects in African and Asian countries realized between 1955 and 1989—a period of global political upheaval during which numerous states gained independence from European colonial powers and international cooperation was increasingly marked by Cold War tensions. Designs by Djamshid Farassat, Hans Hollein, Shahrzad Seradj-Kraupp, Helene Koller-Buchwieser, Norbert Heltschl, Carl Pruscha, Hannes Lintl, Roland Rainer, and Anton Schweighofer, among others, illustrate transnational dimensions and reveal surprising connections between Austria and the Global South.
In seven chapters, lavishly illustrated with reproductions of plans, images of models, photographs, and other documents from Architekturzentrum Wien’s collection, the book guides readers through the complex entanglements of architecture, geopolitics, development cooperation, and transnational knowledge exchange. Scholarly essays and other contributions by international authors expand on historical, political, and cultural contexts and offer local reflections from Nepal, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Abu Dhabi.