Everything silo - Gerhard Kowald

Silos and silo facilities have been part of the agricultural infrastructure for decades and thus characterize the cultural landscape in Austria.

Nevertheless, these structures are hardly ever given general attention, probably because they usually have a very rudimentary and inconspicuous form and this is subordinate solely to their function. However, careful observation reveals many different forms and designs. In some cases, the silos are cleverly integrated into the architectural context of the courtyard and, in addition to their intended function, are also given a - perhaps unintentional - aesthetic statement and effect.

In more recent times, many silos have been rendered functionless by silo bales and are often left to decay. In individual cases, however, the owners find new forms of use with a great deal of creativity and often great effort. A silo thus becomes an "upcycled silo".

The afo architekturforum oberösterreich is showing the photographic works of Gerhard Kowald in the cellar vault of the old Volksküche as part of the Architecture Days 2026 "What connects us - infrastructures of everyday life". The Salzburg artist has been documenting agricultural buildings and their conversion for many years and thus touches on several topics that also concern the afo in the context of building culture: What effects does structural change have on the built environment, especially in rural areas? How can everyday buildings continue to be used and thus preserved? Between pragmatism and a great deal of inventiveness, the selected photos show how it is possible to respond to these issues.