Vienna (OTS) – If you want to get from the southern part of the 15th district to the northern part – and vice versa – as a pedestrian you only have a limited number of options: one of them is the Rustensteg, built in 1901, which leads over the ÖBB railway tracks. It connects the area of Outer Mariahilfer Strasse with Felberstrasse. To get to the southern staircase, pedestrians have to go through an approx. 45 m long underpass. This has so far been uninviting: the walls have been smeared over the years, the tunnel appeared dimly lit and gloomy. That has now changed fundamentally: the passage has been colorfully decorated in the last few days by the scene artist Ms. Isa. At the same time, the city has installed the latest LED lighting, which now provides more brightness. City councilor Ulli Sima and district leader Dietmar Baurecht looked at the newly designed underpass together with the artist today.
“Passages and underpasses can quickly become scary spaces if they appear dark and deserted. Smeared walls and outdated lighting contribute to this. It is important to me that bridges and underpasses are not only functional and technically safe, but that users also feel safe – you can achieve a lot with color and light. Thanks to the new LED lamps, we are making the underpass brighter and safer and also saving energy. Experience also shows that a wall that has been designed with high artistic quality is not immediately scribbled on again,” emphasizes City Councilor Ulli Sima, responsible for, among other things, MA 29, bridge construction and foundation construction, and MA 33, Vienna lights.
In total, an area of approximately 150 m² was artistically designed. The existing lighting system was completely renewed and converted to energy-saving, brighter LED lights.
District head Dietmar Baurecht emphasizes: “The key points for a redesign of the Westbahn area were presented a few weeks ago – with a very positive response. But it is also important to take good measures in the short term to enable our crossings over the Western Railway area to be upgraded. On the one hand, the artistic design in the passage to Rustensteg improves the emotional perception of this space for each individual. On the other hand, it is particularly important to me to significantly improve the lighting conditions in this area with new lighting. These plans are now being put into action.” As a further result of the redevelopment of the Westbahn area, the Rustensteg will also be made barrier-free.
“My idea was that people could immerse themselves in another, mystical world when they entered the tunnel, only to come back to reality at the other end,” said the artist Ms. Isa. “The representation is intended to transform the tunnel into a place of peace and joy and invite the viewer to be distracted from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”
About the artist:
Ms. Isa, born in Carinthia in 1986, has lived and worked as an artist and illustrator in Vienna for many years. Thanks to her positive style and significant choice of colors, she quickly gained notoriety in the street art scene. The connection to graffiti and her highly stylized, illustrative figures brought her into contact with many international artists with similar backgrounds. There are now house facades all over the world that have Ms. Isa’s women on them. Some can also be found in Vienna, including on the facade of the Vienna Museum on Karlsplatz. Most recently, Ms. Isa artistically designed the “Schüttautunnel” and the Wagram Tunnel.
rk-Fotoservice: www.wien.gv.at/presse/bilder
Questions & Contact:
Sophia Schönecker
Media spokeswoman, city councilor Ulli Sima
Phone: +43 1 4000 82182
Mobile phone: 0676/8118 82182
E-Mail: sophia.schoenecker@wien.gv.at
#Rustensteg #underpass #15th #district #colorful #bright #artistic #design #LED #lighting #City #vienna
