Review: The Metropolis Experiment Vienna and the 1873 World Exhibition
The Metropolis Experiment Vienna and the 1873 World Exhibition Wien Museum Karlsplatz, Vienna 15 May 28 September 2014 As the subtitle of this exhibition at the Wien Museum Karlsplatz correctly suggested, this was both a show on "Vienna around 1870" and a show on the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna. The two exhibitions were consciously intertwined, reflecting how closely Vienna and its World Exhibition were connected. The show started with four sections on the development of Vienna during the boom years of 1867 73: the construction and financing of the Wiener Ringstrase, the regulation of the river Danube, the construction of the new freshwater conduit from the Semmering to Vienna, and the introduction of new traffic systems (such as the horse tramway) and means of communication (such as pneumatic postal delivery) The fifth part, "City within the City," focused on the planning, building, and opening of the first World Exhibition outside London and Paris. The major players and the context for the building site in the Prater a former imperial hunting ground and public recreational area for the Viennese (including the so called Volksprater, a popular fun fair) were introduced. The center of this room in the Wien Museum sported a purpose built large section model of the main building of the World Exhibition the Rotunda and several original drawings by its architect, Carl von Hasenauer (Figure 1) The emphasis of the