Schmalzhoftempel

The Schmalzhof Temple, also known as the Schmalzhofgasse Synagogue, was a prominent congregational synagogue in Vienna's Mariahilf district. Built between 1883 and 1884 to designs by Max Fleischer in the Neo-Gothic style, it was the first of three synagogue buildings he planned in Vienna. Fleischer chose raw brick construction and Gothic forms so that, on a modest budget, he could do without elaborate sculptural work, while inside he sought a Protestant-influenced reform of the ritual by combining the Torah ark with the cantor's lectern and adding an organ loft and pulpit. Freestanding on three sides, the building made an impression with its strong articulation, created by small turrets, roofs of varying heights, and an eastern apse. Inside, three naves provided space for the congregation, with galleries for women in the side aisles. During the November pogroms of 1938, the synagogue was set on fire and completely destroyed. Today, a memorial plaque on Loquaiplatz marks the building's former location.