Sanatorium Purkersdorf, Modernist medical building in Purkersdorf, Austria.
The Sanatorium Purkersdorf is a modernist building with clean lines, expansive windows, and three functional levels for physiotherapy, social activities, and patient rooms. Its open, light-filled design was revolutionary for medical architecture of that era.
Josef Hoffmann designed this building in 1904 for industrialist Victor Zuckerkandl, establishing a new direction in Austrian architecture. This project influenced how medical buildings were designed across Europe for decades to come.
The furnishings were created by Wiener Werkstätte craftsmen, reflecting how the Secession movement brought art into everyday spaces during the early 1900s. You can still see this attention to handcrafted detail in the rooms today.
The building sits in a wooded area near Vienna and now functions as a nursing home following major renovations. It is advisable to check access conditions beforehand, as visiting may be limited or require advance notice.
The original design deliberately eliminated ornamental elements and introduced a revolutionary concept of medical architecture. This radical simplicity was uncommon at the time, but it allowed rooms to breathe and brought natural light into every space.
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