Dynamic Simulation and Visualization

LVA-Nr. 272.042, VU 2.0h, TISS-Entry

Recent Work in Dynamic Simulation and Visualization:

The Resurrection of a Church (2007)

Heidemarie Seblatnig & Peter Ferschin

The aim of the course is to reconstruct the interior of the Rosary Church in the 12th district of Vienna, called Hetzendorf, in its original conception, following the works of the architect Hubert Gangl and artist Franz Zelezny, by the means of virtual visualization.

The church was built in 1909 by the Viennese architect Hubert Gangl (1874 – 1932) in the neo-romanesque style. Hubert Gangl was a disciple of Friedrich Schmidt. The artistic design of the interior by the sculptor Franz Zelezny was destroyed and is documented by many photos and the ciborium altar, a work of the architect Gangl, exists as a model in the Historical Museum of Vienna.

The Rosary Church was created somewhat after the National Opera House of Vienna (1861-1869), but the ornamental style of the Rosary Church recalls the National Opera House in many of its details. Both buildings were damaged during World War Two; whereas the Opera House was badly damaged, the Rosary Church received only light damages.
Both buildings were repaired during the 1950ies. The rebuilding of the Opera House was done with great respect to the details of the original.
The church was “cleaned” of parts of the exterior design and the integrity of the artistic interior design, as well as the interior arcades with its round arches, rose-capitals, and its frescoes. The altar piece, measuring twelve meters and
executed by the architect himself, was also removed.
Also, all wood sculptures were removed, among them a via crucis made up of
14 wood reliefs designed by the academic sculptor Franz Zelezny. The latter
are now partly in storage rooms, or have been destroyed.
Franz Zelezny (1883 -1968) was, in his time, an acknowledged sculptor, and
his works stay appreciated until today.