The Prater in Vienna is a historical site that reflects the city's growth into a modern metropolis. It was opened in 7 by Emperor Josef II and has since been a place for recreation, pleasure, and entertainment. The Prater features a wide range of attractions, including optical curiosities, soccer, balloon flights, rockets, May Day and flower parades, and the World's Fair in 873. It also explores the relationship between nature and city, man and animal, modern technology and the human body. The book includes in-depth essays on urban history, with contributions from over 40 renowned authors, numerous illustrations and photo spreads, and contributions from a wide range of experts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2024
Publisher: Birkhauser

The Prater, a central landmark of Vienna's history, reflects the city's transformation into a modern metropolis. Its origins date back to 1766 when Emperor Josef II opened the imperial hunting grounds to the public, offering recreational activities such as walking, musical performances, dining, drinking, and dancing. Over time, the Prater became a hub for showcasing novelties, including optical curiosities, soccer matches, balloon flights, rocket launches, May Day and flower parades, and even the World's Fair in 1873. It served as a platform for various forms of entertainment, including theaters, cinemas, variety shows, zoos, circuses, and the vivarium, planetarium, and stadium. The Prater encapsulates the core themes of modern life, exploring the intricate relationships between nature and city, man and animal, modern technology, and the human body. "The Prater and the City, Nature and Technology, Body and Desire, Grand Theater" is a comprehensive book that delves into over 25 years of urban history. It features contributions from renowned authors and includes numerous illustrations and photo spreads. The book explores various aspects of the Prater, including its historical significance, its role in shaping modern Vienna, and its impact on urban life. It also examines the various themes that are intertwined within the Prater, such as the relationship between nature and city, the impact of modern technology on the human body, and the role of the Prater as a cultural and social hub. "The Prater and the City, Nature and Technology, Body and Desire, Grand Theater" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in urban history, architecture, and the cultural heritage of Vienna. It provides a detailed and insightful look at the Prater's past, present, and future, and offers a unique perspective on the city's transformation into a modern metropolis.

The Prater – a centerpiece of Viennese history as a reflection of changing times

The Prater represents like no other place the history of Vienna and its growth into the modern metropolis of today. The opening of the Prater in 1766 under Emperor Josef II marked the beginning of a new era. From then on, the imperial hunting grounds were open to all Viennese citizens for recreation and pleasure, for walks, musical performances as well as eating, drinking, and dancing. From optical curiosities to soccer, balloon flights and rockets, May Day and flower parades, all novelties were presented to a large audience for the first time here – in the Wurstelprater amusement park, in theaters, cinemas, variety shows, zoos, circuses, at the World's Fair in 1873, in the vivarium, planetarium, or stadium. In the Prater, the major themes of modern life are condensed: the relationship between nature and city, man and animal, modern technology and the human body.

In-depth essays on more than 25 years of urban history: The Prater and the City, Nature and Technology, Body and Desire, Grand Theater

With contributions from more than 4 renowned authors

With numerous illustrations and photo spreads

With contributions from:

• Thorsten Blume


• Susanne Breuss


• Andreas Brunner


• Ingrid Erb


• Brigitte Felderer


• Michael Feuchtinger


• Wolfgang Fichna


• Helmuth Figdor


• Alys George


• Bernhard Hachleitner


• Tobias Hofbauer


• Severin Hohensinner


• Martin Huber


• Anna Jungmayr


• Christian Klösch


• Sarah Knoll


• Claudia Koch


• Thomas Macho


• Wolfgang Maderthaner


• Sabine Müller


• Andreas Nierhaus


• Klaus Nüchtern


• Martina Nußbaumer


• Vrääth Öhner


• Eva-Maria Orosz


• Olaf Osten


• Peter Payer


• Birgit Peter


• Sarah Pichlkastner


• Stefan Poser


• Béla Rásky


• Tabea Rude


• Martin Scheutz


• Werner Michael Schwarz


• Georg Spitaler


• Ursula Storch


• Christine St.

The Prater, a central landmark of Vienna's history, reflects the city's transformation into a modern metropolis. Its origins date back to 1766 when Emperor Josef II opened the imperial hunting grounds to the public, offering recreational activities such as walking, musical performances, dining, drinking, and dancing. Over time, the Prater became a hub for showcasing novelties, including optical curiosities, soccer matches, balloon flights, rocket launches, May Day and flower parades, and even the World's Fair in 1873. It served as a platform for various forms of entertainment, including theaters, cinemas, variety shows, zoos, circuses, and the vivarium, planetarium, and stadium. The Prater encapsulates the core themes of modern life, exploring the intricate relationships between nature and city, man and animal, modern technology, and the human body. "The Prater and the City, Nature and Technology, Body and Desire, Grand Theater" is a comprehensive book that delves into over 25 years of urban history. It features contributions from renowned authors and includes numerous illustrations and photo spreads. The book explores various aspects of the Prater, including its historical significance, its role in shaping modern Vienna, and its impact on urban life. It also examines the various themes that are intertwined within the Prater, such as the relationship between nature and city, the impact of modern technology on the human body, and the role of the Prater as a cultural and social hub. "The Prater and the City, Nature and Technology, Body and Desire, Grand Theater" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in urban history, architecture, and the cultural heritage of Vienna. It provides a detailed and insightful look at the Prater's past, present, and future, and offers a unique perspective on the city's transformation into a modern metropolis.

Weight: 2165g
Dimension: 300 x 240 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783035628555