Linz is the location for my building of the month for September. Linz is a city on the Danube which is vying for tourist attention and trying to compete with Salzburg and has been establishing itself as a centre for Modern Art. There is much development taking places in the city centre, along the Danube and including new transport infrastructure.

The Lentos Art Museum is a spectacular construction of etched glass and steel overlooking the river. The building, designed by the Zürich based architects, Weber and Hofer, was opened in 2003. It replaces the New Gallery of the City of Linz as the major location for the arts. The building reflects the city and the river in daylight with the transparency of the glass both absorbing and mirroring its location. However at night it transforms as the facade can be illuminated and dominate the skyline. 

The Lentos museum’s collection is based on the works belonging to the Berlin art dealer, Wolfgang Gurlitts, and has been substantially added to representing a first class view of twentieth century Austrian art. These works range from the classical modernist artists Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka to more contemporary works from Heimo Zobernig  and Maria Lassnig.

One of the challenges the Lentos has responsibly faced and is tackling is investigating how much of the Gurlitt collection is Nazi looted art and so far a number of works have been returned to their Jewish family owners.

The Danube as it enters Austria is already a mighty river and this new sparkling modern construction adequately works in partnership.