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David Altrath's Greenhouse Series Captures Vienna's Historic Palmenhaus in Analog Film

publication · 2026-03-19

German photographer David Altrath has released the fourth installment of his ongoing Greenhouse series, focusing on Vienna's historic Palmenhaus. The Hamburg-based artist used analog film to document the 19th-century glass-and-steel structure, which was originally built in 1881/82 on the site of a former botanical garden. The Palmenhaus measures 113 meters in length and features three interconnected pavilions housing distinct climate zones: a cold house, temperate zone, and tropical house. Altrath's cinematic photographs emphasize the interplay between architectural form and natural elements, presenting the greenhouse as a living archive of design and environmental conditions.

Key facts

  • David Altrath is a German photographer based in Hamburg
  • The project is the fourth chapter of his ongoing Greenhouse photographic series
  • The Palmenhaus is a historic glass-and-steel structure built in 1881/82 in Vienna, Austria
  • The greenhouse measures 113 meters long with three interconnected pavilions
  • Each pavilion hosts a distinct climate zone: cold, temperate, and tropical

Entities

Artists

  • David Altrath

Locations

  • Vienna
  • Austria

Sources