Atelierhaus C21

Isolde Rajek

LIVE AND WORK
Located directly beside Vienna’s railway line, the studio building is a remnant of the Sonnwendviertel urban expansion near the Main Station. The unique setting inspired both architecture and landscape design and allowed an unusually experimental approach. Seventy-eight studios combine living and working spaces for artists and creative professionals, complemented by communal and exhibition spaces on the ground floor.
TIME
The unconventional concept enabled an open-ended design process based on trust, patience, and participation. The outdoor space functions as a platform for spontaneous development and unforeseen change, shaped equally by landscape architects and residents. The raw character of the surrounding infrastructure and the constant movement of trains are integral to the site’s identity.
ANARCHY AND CHANGE
The landscape is initially structured by planted trees, shrubs, and varied substrates. Apart from the entrance terrace and service areas, spaces remain open, loosely defined, and freely accessible. Large quarry stones integrated into the terrain create informal spatial sequences. Vegetation develops naturally from different soil conditions, while paths emerge through use and appropriation. New species establish themselves, others disappear, and residents as well as neighbors actively inhabit and transform the space through everyday activities.
BIODIVERSITY
Different substrates in composition and depth encourage ecological diversity within a compact urban habitat. Maintenance is intentionally minimal, allowing natural succession to shape the landscape. A wide range of insects appeared within the first years, supported by nutrient-rich shrubs and small water features.
FUTURE AND COEXISTENCE
The project remains open. Vegetation, fauna, and human interaction continuously reshape the garden, at times approaching wilderness. The coexistence of a near-natural landscape with its urban surroundings draws its appeal from this contrast.

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