Politics VS architecture As far as the disfigurement of old village cores is concerned, for many years bank buildings were among the main offenders. In recent years, this situation has changed for the better - it has been recognised that good architecture can have a positive impact on potential clients. Like with supermarket chains a real competition has developed between the different banks. This is good for the standard of architecture in the country, which unfortunately is, at times, still a victim of political power games. Much to the chagrin of architect Antonius Lanzinger, who had brought on board his colleague Karin Hoeck, who is experienced with this kind of commission, this was also the case with the new building for the Raika (bank) in Kundl. A few years previously Hoeck had been involved in the Kundl village renewal project, which was monitored by nonconform and out of which the wish of the local populace for a central, barrier-free shared space and a cafe emerged. The results of this process also formed the basis for the metamorphosis of the Raika in Kundl, which stands directly on the square that was to be redesigned. The existing bank building was to be renovated, redesigned, and docked to a new building. Hoeck's suggestion for the position of the new building was rejected by the mayor and blocked by the town council building committee. A second design that was about one third smaller fared no better. Ultimately, a third design was carried out, but this does not mean that the problems between the bank mayor and architect have been resolved or that all are now delighted with this extremely successful new building.
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