The big interview

Lugner’s widow: “Richard was still talking about a child”

Simone Lugner (42), the last wife of the late master builder.(Bild: KRISTIAN BISSUTI)

One month and three days ago, master builder Richard Lugner (91) died. An entire family mourned publicly, his last wife stood on the sidelines. Simone Lugner (42) talks to Conny Bischofberger about the night of his death, her way of saying goodbye and a future that still lies in the dark.

It's Friday the 13th, "Richard's lucky number", explains Simone as she opens the door to the Lugner villa in the vineyards of Grinzing. Neighbors and fans have placed grave lights in front of the garage, "he is still very much missed." It's eerily quiet in the house, where there used to be a lot of commotion. The wind whips the trees in the garden, rain beats against the glass fronts of the large living room. "Kind of suits my mood," says Simone and shows us her wreath. She has had it re-tied with artificial flowers and wants to place it on Richard's grave soon.

The Russian street cat "Nyo" slumbers on the sofa and a fire burns in the fireplace under the Warhol-like Lugner portrait. "When the inheritance is divided up at some point," says Simone and takes a seat where her husband used to sit, "I would have liked to keep this picture."

"Krone": Mrs. Lugner, how are you, alone, here in this big house?
Simone Lugner: Some days the world still falls apart. On other days, when I think about the nice things, I'm fine. I always used to live alone and I got along fine. I didn't miss anything. Now I sit down over there and he's missing. I sit down over there and he's missing. I sit down outside and he's missing. I still find it hard to look at pictures. He's hanging everywhere. It's worst in the evening. That was always our time.

How did you spend the evening before he died?