Wasserturm Favoriten

Wasserturm Favoriten stands on the crest of Wienerberg in Vienna’s tenth district, marking the city’s southern skyline. Franz Borkowitz designed the tower for Vienna. Built between 1898 and 1899, it supplied drinking water to higher areas of the tenth and twelfth districts. Its brickwork reflects industrial historicism. The 67-metre structure contains steel tanks, a masonry cylinder, and a spiral ramp along the inner wall. The ramp reaches 203 metres through the tower. Kaiserstein from quarries associated with Kaisersteinbruch also forms part of the building’s material history. Its thick outer brick wall narrows towards the roof. A central staircase leads towards the conical roof and an exterior walkway around the upper lantern. From the viewing platform, guided visits during some events provide broad views across Vienna. After regular water-supply use ended, the tower gained a cultural role through exhibitions and water-related events. Renovation between 1988 and 1990 restored the roof ornaments with glazed bricks in five colours. The interior now accommodates exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, and other cultural uses connected with water. Wasserturm Favoriten therefore preserves Vienna’s water infrastructure in a building that continues to frame the surrounding city.