The longest building in Europe spanning nearly a mile with 4 tram stops

Karl-Marx-Hof in Vienna is considered to be Europe's longest residential building. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Some buildings are famous for their height, others for their importance, but few can claim to be the longest in Europe. Spanning nearly a mile, one structure has housed thousands of residents for nearly a century and even played a role in a brief civil war. 

The building in question is the Karl-Marx-Hof, in Vienna, Austria, which is considered to be the longest residential building in Europe. Measuring 1,100 metres (around 1,200 yards), it spans four tram stops - Gunoldstraße, Heiligenstadt 12.-Februar-Platz, Halteraugasse, and Grinzinger Straße.

The huge complex originally contained 1,382 apartments. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

It was designed by Karl Ehn and built between 1927 and 1930 as part of a massive social housing initiative following World War I. 

The project aimed to provide affordable homes for working-class families in a city struggling with severe housing shortages.

The huge complex originally contained 1,382 apartments for more than 5,000 residents, with units ranging from 30 to 60 square metres. 

But there was more to Karl-Marx-Hof than just housing - it was a self-contained community. 

It featured two laundries, two bathhouses, a post office, a maternity and infant welfare centre, a library, a dental clinic, a pharmacy, doctors’ offices, and multiple shops.

The building was built between 1927 and 1930. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Only 18.5% of its 156,000 square metres was built upon, with the rest dedicated to gardens, courtyards, and playgrounds.

The building also quickly became known for its red-brick design and fortress-like appearance.

What’s more, in February 1934, Karl-Marx-Hof became a battleground during the Austrian Civil War when socialist resistance fighters barricaded themselves inside. 

The Austrian army and police launched a three-day assault, shelling the building with artillery before forcing the rebels to surrender. 

During Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany, the building was renamed Heiligenstädter Hof, before reclaiming its original name in 1945.

Today, part of the building has been turned into a museum. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Today, part of the building has been turned into a museum on “Red Vienna”, documenting the city’s socialist history and urban development. 

For those planning to visit, it is easily accessible using Vienna’s public transport network. 

The U4 subway line stops at Heiligenstadt station, which is located directly opposite the building. 

The D tram line also runs alongside it, covering the four previously mentioned stops .

Visitors coming from the city centre can take the D tram from the main Ringstraße boulevard, which also happens to pass through some of Vienna’s most scenic districts.