Hans-Paulas Park
- A park in front of the prison Wien Simmering
Architecture
Date, Location
- 28 February 2024, Hans-Paulas-Park, Wien, Austria, Justizanstalt Wien-Simmering, Wien, Austria
Keywords
Bau, Park, Gefängnis, Architecture
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Hans-Paulas-Park is located in the 11th district of Simmering, Vienna. The park and the children's playground are situated in close proximity to the wall of Simmering prison (Justizanstalt Wien Simmering), the fifth-largest penal institution in Austria. According to the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice, it houses male prisoners with sentences ranging from short to around 5 years. With approximately 500 inmates, it is reportedly overcrowded. Using satellite images or Google Earth's 3D mode, one can observe that on the opposite side of the wall from the children’s playground, there is a prison sports ground where inmates can engage in free-time activities such as football, basketball, and handball, as mentioned by the Ministry of Justice. The prison was converted from Kaiserebersdorf Castle, whose history dates back to the 12th century when it was a fortified castle owned by the Lords of Himberg. In 1499, the Ebersdorf family gave the castle to the Habsburgs, who used it for hunting purposes. After the first Turkish Siege of Vienna and the significant damages it caused, the castle took the form of a Renaissance-style hunting and pleasure palace (Lustschloss). It can be argued that elements of play and leisure time, such as music, dance, and hunting, were already present in this area five centuries ago. Maximilian II continued the expansion of pleasure activities with the creation of the first European menagerie, a forerunner of the zoo, often displaying exotic animals. It exposed the famous and first Viennese elephant, Suleiman, who was born and transferred from the Portuguese colonies in Ceylon, traveling through many European cities. This journey culminated in his grand entrance into Vienna with a celebratory parade on March 6th, 1552. The elephant was kept captive in Kaiserebersdorf and displayed for one and a half years until its death, likely due to negligence and inappropriate nutrition, as suggested by researchers Stephan Oetterman and Hubert Reitterer. In the next almost 400 years, the castle underwent significant changes and was reconstructed into a baroque-style castle. It has been used for various purposes, including accommodation for the poor and orphans, as well as a military hospital and barracks. Since 1921, the castle has alternately housed a juvenile correctional facility and a federal institution for children in need of education. From 1929, the castle was used as a correctional facility for teenagers. After the integration of Austria into Germany in the Second World War, it became a youth prison. Schools were closed, and psychologists were let go. In 1945, countless teenagers were sent to war. After 1945, the prison was handed over to the department of justice. There was no change of staff, and violence against teenagers continued. Since 1975, it has been a correctional facility. On November 19th, 1952, there was a revolt in the then Federal Institute for Persons in Need of Education. Five teenagers refused to work and barricaded themselves within a cell. The chef of the institution initially reacted rather relaxed, saying that they would soon get hungry and thirsty, but other inmates gave them food and drinks through the window. After a failed first attempt to get the teenagers out of the cell, it is said that a drunk officer walked in front of their cell and threatened to shoot their heads and then shot several shots into the cell. Then the teenagers were evicted from the cell and locked up elsewhere. But the shots were the starting signal for the revolt. Teenagers broke out of their cells. They started destroying furniture, setting things on fire, breaking windows. At first, a commando of 12 police officers tried to calm the kids and teenagers but failed. They then sent 140 police students to raid the building. 60 people were sent to prison, and many got severely injured. After this incident, educators and psychologists were employed there for the first time. At the beginning of the 1990s, the extension of the prison triggered extensive archaeological excavations and research. Established in 1990, Hans Paulus Park and the children's playground were extended in 2004 and now cover an area of approximately 10,200 square meters. The highest level of the prison cells overlooks the children's playground, allowing the inmates to observe it every day, particularly during winter when the leafless trees planted as a natural barrier between the playground and the prison make it more visible. In late autumn and winter, the playground is mostly uninhabited. The only rare but significant group one could see are families with an immigration background, particularly women with kids. Sometimes, a group of men sits around the small tables and drinks alcohol. Despite the threat of a large fine, a young man speaks loudly but relaxedly with a few prisoners who are sticking out through the window bars. At some point, one of the prisoners spells some words letter by letter, and then, numbers. We spoke to a waiter at restaurant Pan and asked him if the park was crowded during the summer, and he said yes. Also, he mentioned that relatives and friends of prisoners often stand on the sidewalk and talk to them through the window. This works because the distance from some windows is very close to a sidewalk. Ironically, the playground is fenced in, yet the "disobedient" little girl doesn't use the entrance; instead, she trespasses over it. The playground features multiple mainly high structures that suggest climbing: a hill with artificial grass, a tower, a bouldering wall, a rope ladder, a curved metal ladder, slides, and swings. However, the playground dramatically lacks inclusive elements for all to play with. We could see two small girls performing tightrope walking. After they finished, a boy with disabilities sadly shook the rope with his hands, unable to climb or play with anything there. At the top of the hill, there is an exclusively summer feature - a water mill with open wooden pipes that carry water from the top to the bottom. Another small “watchtower” has lensless binoculars mounted on it, but you can still see towards the prison. Another neighboring site of the playground, just beyond another adjacent wall, is the rather massive location of the undeniably toxic iron and metal recycling plant, 'Die Altmetal Profis.' Adjacent to the park's corner is the BP gas station. On the other side of the park, across the street and facing another prison wing, there are four social housing buildings built in 1958. On the ground floor of one of these houses, there is a travel agency called 'Swodoba,' meaning 'freedom' in many Slavic languages.
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REFERENCES: [1] 09/01/2022 – Die Geschichte der Justizanstalt Wien Simmering und Aufstände in sogenannten “Erziehungsheimen”. (o. D.). Cba - Cultural Broadcasting Archive. https://cba.media/541307 (last opened: February 24th 2024) [2] Hubert Reitterer: INCVRIA RECTORIS. Zum Tod des ersten Wiener Elefanten. In: Studien zur Wiener Geschichte. Jahrbuch des Vereins für Geschichte der Stadt Wien, Band 61 (2005). Wien 2006. [3] Stephan Oettermann: Die Schaulust am Elefanten. Eine Elephantographia Curiosa. Frankfurt am Main 1982, S. 102 ff. [4] Von Kaiserresidenz zu Gefängnis-Zweckbau. (o. D.). DER STANDARD. https://www.derstandard.at/story/1289609446002/schloss-kaiserebersdorf-von-kaiserresidenz-zu-gefaengnis-zweckbau (last opened: February 24th 2024) [5] Togger. (2007, 24. Oktober). Revolte in der Erziehungsanstalt - Augustin - Die erste österreichische Boulevardzeitung. Augustin - die Erste Österreichische Boulevardzeitung. https://augustin.or.at/revolte-in-der-erziehungsanstalt/ (last opened: February 24th 2024)
Activity List
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- Vladimir Nadein - Author
- Thomas Süß - Author
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Locations
Addresses
- Hans-Paulas-Park, Wien, Austria
- Wien
- Austria
- Justizanstalt Wien-Simmering, Wien, Austria
- Wien
- Austria
Associated Media Files
Image#1- Image#2
- Image#3
