Graz Modern Architecture Walking Tour

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Graz Modern Architecture Walking Tour Named the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003, Graz is well known for a number of new buildings, including the Civic Exhibition Hall (Stadthalle), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Kunstmuseum), the Island in the Mur, and the Children's Museum. These and many other buildings are among the city's highlights. Take this self-guided tour to explore the impressive modern architecture of Graz. Guide Location: Austria» Graz # of Attractions: 7 Tour Duration: 1 hour(s) Travel Distance: 2.3 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Graz Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Graz Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Graz. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Cafe Aiola Upstairs B) Lift im Berg C) The Island in the Mur D) Mursteg Footbridge E) Kunsthaus F) Jakominiplatz G) Light Sword Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Cafe Aiola Upstairs Designed by Siegfried Frank and Michael Rieper, Cafe Aiola is considered one of Graz's great urban spaces.

It was created using just a few elements: a simple flat roof rests on steel uprights and beautiful high glass walls separate the bar from the service area.

Castle Mountain (Schlossberg), the glass-enclosed elevator known as the "lift im Berg.

3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Cafe Aiola Upstairs Designed by Siegfried Frank and Michael Rieper, Cafe Aiola is considered one of Graz's great urban spaces. The cafe is a transparent space, surrounded by a beautiful terrace. It was created using just a few elements: a simple flat roof rests on steel uprights and beautiful high glass walls separate the bar from the service area. Address: Schloßberg, 2, 8010 Graz, Austria Image Courtesy of Flickr and Rudolf Hatheyer B) Lift im Berg Reiner Schmid, architect of "Dom im Berg," designed the speediest means to reach the top of the Castle Mountain (Schlossberg), the glass-enclosed elevator known as the "lift im Berg." To construct the lift, which has a rise of 77 meters, 5,000 cubic meters of material were removed from the mountain. Address: Schloßbergplatz, 1, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Jean François Riemer C) The Island in the Mur (must see) The Murinsel, or the Island in the Mur, is actually not an island at all, but an artificial floating platform in the middle of the Mur river. This landmark was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture. The building in the form of a giant seashell measures 50m in length by 20m in width. Two footbridges connect it with the opposite banks of the Mur. The center of the platform forms an amphitheater. Below a twisted round dome are a café and a playground. "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: Kaiser Franz Josef Kai, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Georg Mittenecker. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

It connects the two shores of the Mur River, showing a notable elevation difference. The bridge is a blend of innovative engineering and aesthetic design.

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - D) Mursteg Footbridge Constructed in 1992 by Günther Domenig and Hermann Eisenköck, the Mursteg Footbridge is a strikingly modern steel suspension bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It connects the two shores of the Mur River, showing a notable elevation difference. The bridge is a blend of innovative engineering and aesthetic design. Address: Mursteg Footbridge, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner E) Kunsthaus (must see) The Kunsthaus was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2003 and has since become an architectural landmark in Graz. Its exhibition program specializes in contemporary art of the last four decades. Its unusual form differs radically from conventional exhibition contexts, many of which maintain the traditions of the modernist "White Cube". The team of architects used an innovative stylistic idiom, known as blob architecture within the historical ambiance of the Murvorstadt. Thus, the gigantic building affectionately called the "Friendly Alien" by its creators Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, in form and material, stands out consciously against the surrounding baroque roof landscape with its red clay roofing tiles but nevertheless integrates the façade of the 1847 iron house. "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Operation Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm; Address: Lendkai 1, Graz, 8020, Austria Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Kamahele. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - F) Jakominiplatz Constructed between 1786 and 1820, parts of Jakominiplatz were originally sold for housing. Today, the character of the square has changed.

It is named after Kaspar Andreas Ritter von Jacomini. Address: Jakominiplatz, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Flickr and zerok.

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - F) Jakominiplatz Constructed between 1786 and 1820, parts of Jakominiplatz were originally sold for housing. Today, the character of the square has changed. Jakominiplatz was redesigned in 1996 by architects Jörg and Ingrid Mayer. The square is now illuminated with hundreds of lights, giving the space a "big city" feel. It is named after Kaspar Andreas Ritter von Jacomini. Address: Jakominiplatz, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Flickr and zerok. Sight description based on wikipedia G) Light Sword Designed and constructed by Graz architect Hartmut Skerbisch, the Light Sword is one of the most remarkable and recognizable landmarks of Graz. Even though the Light Sword is not a building but a sculptural installation, it is still considered to be an important example of new fusion architecture in Graz. The Light Sword is situated next to the Opera House. It was constructed in 1992 for Autumn Festival. Inspired by the Statue of Liberty in New York, Hertmut Skerbisch designed its prototype, which is the same height as the real model. Address: Kaiser Josef Platz, 10, Graz, 8010, Austria Image Courtesy of Flickr and cerdsp Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

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