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🇦🇹 Austria /Culture & Society

How Peter Coeln, founder of WestLicht, lives: 500 square meters full of stories

From Der Standard · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Peter Coeln, founder of the WestLicht museum, lives in a unique 500-square-meter space in Vienna's seventh district.
  • His home is a blend of a loft, a cabinet of curiosities, and a garden house, located in a building constructed in 1954 with classic industrial architecture.
  • The article provides a glimpse into Coeln's living space, highlighting its eclectic nature and the building's industrial charm.

Peter Coeln, the visionary behind Vienna's WestLicht museum, resides in a remarkable 500-square-meter dwelling that defies easy categorization. Situated in the seventh district of Vienna, his home is an intriguing fusion of a loft, a wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities), and a garden house, all housed within a structure built in 1954 with distinct industrial architecture.

Coeln, who opened his first photography studio at the age of 19 in the very premises that now house the WestLicht museum – celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – navigates his living space via a slow-moving industrial freight elevator. The elevator's rumble and heavy metal aesthetic evoke the building's past as a working and storage facility.

Upon exiting the lift, one enters a space that is a testament to Coeln's eclectic tastes and life experiences. It's a personal sanctuary where art, history, and everyday life converge, reflecting the unique character of its owner and the building's industrial heritage.

The house was built in 1954. Very classic industrial architecture.

— Peter CoelnDescribing the building where his home is located.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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