Jabornegg & Pálffy

At the Altenburg Abbey in Austria the exhibition “Retroperspective” focuses on 41 models by Jabornegg & Pálffy, who work on the theme of historic buildings’ fabric, a subject that the Viennese architects have been developing since 1992. Their latest project is the renovation of the Austrian Parliament.

  Although the projects shown have very different functions, their positioning within a historical context remains a common denominator. The term “retro-perspective” can be used as an overall term in defining this kind of examination. Perspective here is understood as a process which not only looks forward but which, for its particular meaning, also requires a look backward, where precision in the relationship between content, architectural form and materiality becomes a decisive reference for quintessential statements that are independent from the specific format to undertake. 

From the very start architectures have, over the course of history, repeatedly been altered, expanded, transformed and augmented to create new spatial states, in accordance with the particular requirements of each era. In making an overall evaluation of the structure of a building conservationists often like to refer to the building as a “document”, to be able to rewrite or continue the spatial sequences where a precise and reflective reading of this text is required.

until 26 October 2017
Jabornegg & Pálffy. Retroperspective 
Altenburg Abbey
Abt Placidus Much-Straße 1, Altenburg
Austria