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Karl Mang‘s Journey to the Orient

Object from the Collection

Mosque in Damascus

Visit to Damascus 1956, view of mosque
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang

On his numerous visits to the Orient Austrian architect Karl Mang followed in the footsteps of Le Corbusier. Alongside the plans in his architectural estate, his extensive collection of slides is also part of the Architekturzentrum Wien holdings.

In 1911 Le Corbusier – in strong contrast to the tradition of what was called the “Grand Tour” (which usually was based around visits to the sites of classical antiquity in Italy) – decided to visit the Orient and to make Constantinople (Istanbul) his goal. During this journey he made innumerable sketches, drawings, water-colours, photographs and written records, which were first published in book form in 1966 under the title “Le Voyage d’Orient”. Visits to different places provided the architect with a source of inspiration and an instrument for learning.

6,000 Colour Slides take us to Far-Away Lands

As the Viennese architect Karl Mang (1922–2015) worked for the Austrian Chamber of Commerce for more than 40 years he was able to make innumerable visits to “exotic” countries. In the period 1952–1972 his “useful trips” brought him to Damascus, Istanbul and Edirne as well as Kuwait, among other places. As documentary material the slide collection is most impressive, while at the same time Mang’s examination of other cultures through the medium of photography illustrates his yearning for an “architecture of stillness”.

View of airport
Visit to Turkey 1956, Istanbul Airport
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang
Detail of an arch
Visit to Damascus 1956, detail of an arch
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang
Detail of gateway
Visit to Kuwait 1957, detail of gateway
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang
Looking into the bazaar
Visit to Kuwait 1957, looking into the bazaar
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang
New architecture
Visit to Kuwait 1957, new architecture
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang
Karl Mang at the seaside
Visit to Kuwait 1957, Karl Mang at the seaside
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection
Complex of buildings dating from the 15th century
Visit to Turkey 1956, looking from the minaret at the building complex of Sultan Beyazid II, 1488, Edirne (Koran school, soup kitchen, outhouses, hospital)
© Architekturzentrum Wien, Collection, photograph: Karl Mang