The historic roof structures on the Academy Campus

On Sunday, 27 September 2026, hundreds of historic monuments across Austria will once again open their doors and invite visitors to rediscover our cultural heritage, with free admission. Under the motto »Monuments: Value for All«, the event will highlight the social, cultural, environmental and economic value that monuments hold for us all.

This year, the Austrian Academy of Sciences is offering a guided tour of the historic roof structures on the Academy Campus by our colleague Gudrun Styhler-Aydın.

The roof structures of the historic building complex surrounding the Old University, now known as the Academy Campus, were predominantly built in the 17th and 18th centuries. They provide detailed insights into building traditions, as well as the structural challenges faced by the master builders of the time. For example, the Baroque roof structure of the Alte Aula, dating from 1642 (as determined by dendrochronology), with a span of over 21 metres, is an extraordinary structure in Viennese secular architecture – one that remains impressive to this day.

Join Gudrun Styhler-Aydın on a guided tour to explore the architectural history of the old university quarter through a look at the historic rooftops, and learn more about the significance of historic roof structures for building research whilst visiting selected examples!

The architect Gudrun Styhler-Aydın is head of the »Historical Building Research« research group at the Austrian Archaeological Institute and an expert in building research and cultural heritage.