The grounds of what used to be Linz’s tobacco processing plant will be the extraordinary featured venue of this year’s Ars Electronica Festival.

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The Tabakfabrik’s history goes back to 1850, when the Austrian State Tobacco Company began producing cigars and pipe & chewing tobacco here. The plant was expanded in stages and production stepped up over the years. The workforce grew rapidly; over 1,000 people (mostly women) were already working here by 1855. From 1930 to 1935, architects Peter Behrens (German) and Alexander Popp (Austrian) expanded the plant complex—including the erection of Austria’s first major steel-frame construction edifice—and thereby created one of the most rigorously designed industrial facilities ever produced by International Modernism. The Tabakfabrik is now protected as a historic landmark.

“After all, you don’t believe that someone who’s ordered a motor dismantles and inspects it. Not even an engineer does that. Experts too make purchases on the basis of the product’s outward appearance. The motor has to look like a birthday present.” In the “Commemorative Volume Published on the Occasion of the Opening of Tabakfabrik Linz’s New Production Facilities,” Peter Behrens quotes the technical director of AEG to underscore his own view that his industrial architecture displays both functional and aesthetic excellence. The new plant went into operation on November 11, 1935.

Production ceased in September 2009. The City of Linz then acquired the entire complex from Japan Tobacco International/Austria Tabak for approximately 20.4 million euros. A corporation was then set up to develop and operate the facility, and Linz’s Johannes Kepler University was commissioned to carry out a preliminary study assessing the various options for the plant’s future use.

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ÖBB Specials:ith the ÖBB-EVENTticket, you’re entitled to a discount* of up to 60% on train fares throughout Austria. Details are available at ÖBB EVENTticket Page.

*In conjunction with Ars Electronica 2010, holders of a Festival Pass, a Daily Pass, a Light Ticket Tabakfabrik or an admission ticket to the Ars Electronica Center are entitled to a reduced price fare on their return trip.

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