Flak tower in Esterházy Park (6th district of Vienna)

Flak Towers were 8 complexes of large, above-ground, anti-aircraft gun blockhouse towers constructed in the cities of Berlin (3), Hamburg (2), and Vienna (3) from 1940 onwards. Other cities that used flak towers included Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Due to the very close neighbouring buildings the flak tower in Esterházy Park could not be blown up after World War II. From 1956 it has been adapted and enlarged for the House of the Sea and the Tropical House. In 1991, the anti-war slogan ‘Smashed into pieces (in the still of the night)’ was attached at the top of the facade. Responsible artist was Lawrence Weiner.