Introduction

Hans Hollein was featuring prominently in the main media drivers for architectural Postmodernism globally: Architectural Design magazine, the 1980 Venice Architecture Biennale, and the inaugural exhibition of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum in 1984. From the mid-1990s Hans Hollein entered a gradual slide in reputation that continued right up until his death in Vienna in April 2014. The art and architecture scene was steeped in Catholicism, and memories of Austria's disastrous pre-war and war-time experiences were never far away. The ending of the Second World War in September 1945 created a deep sense of cultural dislocation for Austria. Given the rapid and traumatic changes in Austria there was undoubtedly considerable difficulty in establishing any kind of cultural identity after the Second World War. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.