A year without Richard Lugner: Vienna remembers the original!”

A year without Richard Lugner: Vienna remembers the original!”

A year has passed since the well-known Viennese entrepreneur and public favorite Richard Lugner died on August 12, 2024 at the age of 91. The death of this Viennese original has left a noticeable void among friends, companions and the general public. He closed his eyes forever in his Döbling villa and left behind not only four children, but also numerous striking buildings that bear his name.

 

Richard Lugner was born on October 11, 1932 in Vienna and had a passion for architecture and construction from an early age. In 1962 he founded the “Lugner Bau- und Immobiliengesellschaft” and quickly made a name for himself when he opened the “Lugner City” in 1990, a shopping center that is one of the largest and most successful in the country. Lugner was not only an entrepreneur, but also a dazzling media phenomenon, known for his colorful lifestyle and the invitations of prominent guests whose appearances at the Opera Ball became legendary. Stars like Sophia Loren and Paris Hilton graced his guest lists, making him a fixture in Vienna's social life.
 

A quiet remembrance

On the first anniversary of his death, Lugner's family remembered him quietly and without much fanfare. Nevertheless, public honors are already being planned. A Richard Lugner square or path could be created in his home district of Döbling. District leader Daniel Resch (ÖVP) is currently holding talks with other factions and the family about naming a place near his last place of residence in Grinzing. An application for a name should be submitted at the next district council meeting in mid-September, as Vienna.at reports.
 

For his fans, a wax figure of the entrepreneur will be exhibited in Lugner City from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the day of his death. The Lugner cinema will also show the film portrait “Richard Lugner – The Unknown Side” at 8 p.m. and entry is free, which will certainly attract many visitors. With the opening of the “Lugner Lodge” an exhibition with personal memorabilia and photographs from his life will also be launched at the Marchfelderhof in Deutsch-Wagram. This initiative is another sign of the respect and solidarity that Lugner left behind during his active time.
 

An unforgettable legacy

Richard Lugner's legacy extends far beyond his construction projects. He not only initiated the first mosque in Vienna and the renovation of the city's main synagogue, but was also a minor phenomenon in the social world. He showed political ambitions, but his two presidential candidacies in 1998 and 2016 were unsuccessful, but that did not stop him from continuing to make his voice heard. Despite his controversial views on some issues, he was and remains an indispensable figure in Viennese society who continued to attract considerable attention even in his final years.
 

The commemoration of Richard Lugner not only honors a life's work, but also a part of Vienna's history that helped shape the city's unique character. His successes and his lifestyle will continue to live on in the memories of those who followed his footsteps.