The Juridicum building in Vienna, constructed between 1968 and 1984, remains a defining project of Ernst Hiesmayr, an Austrian architect whose career bridged post-war reconstruction and academic administration. His practical methodology, grounded in early experience on active construction sites, influenced both his structural designs and his long-term tenure at the Technical University of Vienna.
Early Career and Education
Born in Innsbruck in 1920, Hiesmayr gained initial technical experience on construction sites during his high school years. Following service in the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War, he enrolled at the Graz University of Technology in 1945. Under the tutelage of Friedrich Zotter, he completed his studies in 1948 before establishing a freelance practice with operations across Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna.
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Hiesmayr pursued advanced academic credentials, obtaining his doctorate from the Technical University of Vienna in 1967. A year later, he assumed a full professorship at the Institute of Building Construction. His institutional influence expanded in 1973 when he became Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture. From 1975 to 1977, he served as the Rector of the Technical University of Vienna. In recognition of his contributions, the university later granted him Honorary Senator status in 1988.
Architectural Contributions
His professional portfolio includes diverse commercial and civic works, such as the Trade chamber Vorarlberg in 1951 and the Honeywell office block in Vienna in 1971. He completed the Hotel Clima in both Vienna and Innsbruck in 1959 and the WIFI Dornbirn in 1967. His literary output often reflected his technical philosophy, with publications including 'Einfache Häuser' in 1991 and 'Analytische Bausteine' in 1999.
Professional Recognition
Throughout his career, Hiesmayr received numerous honors, including the City of Vienna Prize for Architecture in 1975 and the European Steel prize in 1980. He was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in Gold in 1978. In his later years, he became a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin, a role he maintained from 1994 until his death in Bregenz in 2006.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 July 1920, Innsbruck
- Died: 6 August 2006, Bregenz
- Nationality: Austrian
- Education: Graz University of Technology
- Key Project: Juridicum der Universität in Wien
- Academic Role: Rector of TU Wien (1975-1977)
- Notable Award: City of Vienna Prize for Architecture (1975)
- Affiliation: Academy of Arts Berlin (1994-2006)
Questions readers ask
What were the primary professional roles of Ernst Hiesmayr?
He was a practicing architect, university professor, and administrator who served as Rector of the Technical University of Vienna.
Which major projects are attributed to him?
Significant works include the Juridicum in Vienna, the Trade chamber Vorarlberg, the Hotel Clima, and the Honeywell office block.
Achievements
- Great Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
- City of Vienna Prize for Architecture
