Apartment Building Engerthstraße

Engerthstraße runs from Friedrich-Engels-Platz in District 20 by the Vienna exhibition grounds and the racetrack to Ernst-Happel Stadiun in the Prater. It was named after Privy Councillor, Wilhelm, Baron of Engerth, who was born in Pszczyna (Poland). As the central director of the Austrian-Hungarian state railway company, he constructed the first mountain locomotive for the Semmering Railway, promoted the regulation of the Danube at Vienna and designed the shut-off device for the Vienna Danube canal.

In 1873, as chief engineer, he managed the construction of the exhibition halls for the Vienna World Fair, its central building, the Rotunde in the Prater, which was initially controversial, however later was received with excitement.  The Graz actor and character performer, Alexander Girardi, first sang the “Fiakerlied” in the Rotunde, which later fell victim to a fire. Today the main building of the Vienna trade fair stands on the site.