Two original furniture and home decoration booklets produced for municipal housing in Vienna, circa late 1950s

Vienna: Verein für Soziale Wohnkultur, Circa 1958. Two vintage furniture and home decor booklets, produced by Austrian furniture maker Soziale Wohnkultur, for subsidized housing in Vienna, circa 1958. One booklet illustrated throughout with black-and-white and color photographs, the other illustrated with black-and-white photographs only. Text in German.

In 1952, in the midst of rebuilding the city after WWII, the government of Vienna formed a furniture initiative called Soziale Wohnkultur, or "Social Living Culture," a project spearheaded by architect Franz Schuster. The project introduced a line of furniture for low-income municipal housing residents that was designed to be attractive and high quality, but also inexpensive and practical for small apartments. A number of prominent Austrian designers were commissioned to work on the project, and the resulting designs ranged from kitchen, bedroom, and living furniture to wall shelving and lamps, all emblazoned with the "SW" logo. The furniture and fittings produced by the SW are considered to have had a significant influence on mid-century Austrian design, and extant furniture from the period is still highly in demand today.

Booklets 5.75 x 7 inches. One booklet with perfect binding, the other side stapled. Both booklets with brief curling, else about Near Fine.


[Book #155556]