One of Vienna’s most whimsical and photographed attractions is the unconventional Hundertwasserhaus apartment building. This colorful landmark is the creation of the famous Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Exterior The exterior of the Hundertwasserhaus appears to have been plucked straight from a vivid dream. No two windows, balconies or exterior elements are the same across the expressionistic façades. Undulating floors, bright colors, irregular ceramic tilework, and eccentric shapes and textures coat the building in an anarchic, organic style.
Interior Courtyard The interior courtyard can be visited and is just as eccentric, filled with towering onion-domed columns, meandering floors, whimsical mosaics, irregular stonework, and lush landscaping. A café here lets you linger amidst the artistic chaos.
Philosophy Hundertwasser rejected straight lines and functional conformity in architecture and nature. The building was his experiment in creating an environmentally-friendly living space integrated with nature, with individually-designed apartments, irregular forms, and incorporation of lush greenery.
Other Hundertwasser Works While in Vienna, you can also tour the permanent collection at the Kunst Haus Wien museum showcasing Hundertwasser’s colorful paintings, prints, architectural models and philosophy. The nearby Hundertwasser Village wine tavern exemplifies his ecological architectural vision.
The eccentric, anti-monumental Hundertwasserhaus is a unique and must-see example of Vienna’s artistic and unconventional side. Even from the exterior, it delights visitors with its playful aesthetics and organic integration with the natural landscape.