a building artwork by D&S
in collaboration with the architects Kopper / Croce / Klug
for the new development of the depot Remise Ottakring

The building kunstwerk / artworkSIGNAL comprises the design of the glass facade of the depot in collaboration with the architect. Therefore, it isn’t an isolated or appliquéd form of art, but rather a unity in the sense of the art of construction.

Graphic characters were chosen for the design of the glass facade. Graphic characters are an inherent part of the appearance of urban architecture. They emphasize parts of a building without decorating them. They make design variations possible without ornamental concealment. They can be integrated in the architectonic order without playing a subordinate role.

Two vowels, A and I, were chosen as well as the four consonants, S,G, N and L.  These letters make up the word SIGNAL. The highly symbolic term SIGNAL was chosen with regard to the function of the building as well as art being a bearer of meaning.

While varying the graphic characters the emphasis was put on keeping the syllable structure and the sounds and rhythm of the word. Therefore the vowels remained in their positions within the word variations. That is how 48 variations of the word can be achieved. 40 of these are presentable on the facade of the depot.

These variations are readable on the facade horizontally as well vertically in syllables. All 48 variations of the word SIGNAL are visible on the wall behind the first section of the facade in the Maroltingergasse (street).

SIGNAL GINLAS NILSAG LISGAN
SIGLAN GINSAL NILGAS LISNAG
SINGAL GILSAN NISGAL LIGNAS
SINLAG GILNAS NISLAG LIGSAN
SILGAN GISNAL NIGLAS LINSAG
SILNAG GISLAN NIGSAL LINGAS
SAGNIL GANLIS NALSIG LASGIN
SAGLIN GANSIL NALGIS LASNIG
SANLIG GALSIN NASGIL LAGNIS
SANGIL GALNIS NASLIG LAGSIN
SALGIN GASNIL NAGLIS LANSIG
SALNIG GASLIN NAGSIL LANGIS