In the course of the 20th century the Federal State of Lower Austria, a "province" which once belonged to the "city" of Vienna, has emancipated itself in a series of stages. The selection of St. Polten as the federal state capital (in place of Vienna) and the subsequent construction of a government district represent the culmination of this process of emancipation. This rural/industrial region was, until recently, regarded as an architectural wasteland. However, in recent years numerous buildings have been erected which need have no fear of international comparison. Parallel to the works of better known architects such as Coop Himmelb(l)au, Hermann Czech, Ernst Hiesmayr, Hans Hollein, Klaus Kada, Adolf Krischanitz, Laurids Ortner, Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca, Elsa Prochazka, Anton Schweighofer, Karla Kowalski/Michael Szyszkowitz and Heinz Tesar who gave a first signal with one or more executed designs, buildings of a high design quality have also been produced by younger architects, most of them from Lower Austria. Ernst Beneder, Walter Ifsits, Paul Katzberger and Karin Bily, Adolph H. Kelz, Gerhard Lindner, Michael Loudon, Elena and Alois Neururer, Rudolf Prohazka, Franz Sam, Franziska Ullmann and others have built a series of sensitive, perfectly worked-out buildings, and a further generation has already completed its apprentice pieces. The interesting and positive development of architectural culture in towns in Lower Austria since the mid-eighties, which received official support through an increase in the number of competitions held and the introduction of design advisory bodies, is documented here by more than one hundred buildings erected in coursse of the last decade. An essayby the architecture critic, Otto Kapfinger, and the texts by Walter Zschokke explain the buildings and illustrate their context. The well-known Viennese architectural photographer, Margherita Spiluttini, and Rupert Steiner, a young photographer, have made an extensive series of black and white photographs for this publication. In combination with selected plans they produce a detailed picture of this architecturally ambitious region.

The county of Lower Austria, formerly the countryside surrounding Vienna, has undergone a step-by-step emancipation during the 20th century that has quite recently culminated with the selection of St. Polten as its capital (replacing Vienna). And, consequentially, this has necessitated the construction of an appropriate government quarter. The region, marked by suburban sprawl and industrial zones, was considered an architectural wasteland until just recently. During the past couple of years, however, several buildings have been erected that need not shy away from the international comparison. Well-known architects such as Coop Himmelb(l)au, Hermann Czech, Ernst Hiesmayr, Hans Hollein, Klaus Kada, Adolf Krischanitz, Laudris Ortner, Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca, Elsa Prochazka, Anton Schweighofer, Karla Szyszkowitz & Michael Kowalski, and Heinz Tesar have, with one or several buildings, made a first mark in Lower Austria. Also, younger architects, mainly from Lower Austria, have created sensible buildings of a high design quality and technical perfection. Among them are: Ernst Beneder, Walter Ifsits, Paul Katzberger & Karin Bily, Adolph H. Kelz, Gerhard Lindner, Michael Loudon, Elena & Alois Neururer, Rudolf Prohazka and Franziska Ullmann. And a new generation of young architects has already completed its journeyman's work and is ready to join the ranks.

The interesting and positive development of the architectural culture since the middle of the 1980s, which is enjoying official support through an increasing number of competitions and the introduction of design councils in Lower Austrian towns, is documented in this book by approximately 100 buildings completed in the past decade.An essay by the architectural critic Otto Kapfinger and texts by Walter Zschokke discuss the buildings and show the connections. The well-known Vienna architectural photographer, Margherita Spiluttini, and the young photograph, Rupert Steiner, have shot numerous black and white photographs for this volume. Enhanced by selected plans, this is a condensed portrait of a region undergoing an architectural ascent. The work of the independent association ORTE - architekturnetzwerk niederosterreich has contributed considerably to the improved architectural-cultural climate.