The Werkbundsiedlung in Vienna is one of those places where you can study how people (aka famous architects) in the past imagined the “modern way of living”. While walking through this housing estate you can soak up the unique atmosphere of something that is both historic and thought-provoking for the future at the same time. (Photo: Bwag/Wikimedia)

I love visiting places that offer a totally different idea of urbanity and experimental concepts for urban (mass) housing. The Wohnpark Alterlaa, built from 1973–1985, is such a project. Hop on the subway to get there and I recommend that you take an extended walk through the area and the surrounding park.

The Donaukanal is a regulated water channel running through Vienna. During summertime the canal banks are filled with after-workers, creatives and party people strolling up- or downstream or grabbing a drink at one of the many bars.

There is one thing finally that is good about vienna’s small size, to reach the river danube and its two side arms in summer, when its boiling hot, takes only few minutes. All the life is transferred from the center to the river banks, swim and barbecue in summer, ice skating in winter. If you exit the subway at Neue Donau station you will see the small tower of viennas biggest mosque that is located on the danube island. You can go there and visit, if you are lucky, you will be offered dryed figues and dates and you can watch the prayers repose themselves lying on mattrasses in the cool.

This bar is in the foyer of the viennese popular theater. the name as well as the interior refer to the socialist direction, but if one imagines a dusty place full of missent ex-marxists it nowadays really is just a place with the ambiance of another time, that houses parties and changing clubs. I love the curtains, the fact that it is in the middle of the city and that one really feels a heavy ancient mood, that is forever related to the image of imperial vienna. it is this certain amount of pretentious pomp that makes going there, regardless of what club it is, surreal and nice.