Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna | Architecture, History, Kunst Haus Wien

Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna Overview

The whimsical Hundertwasserhaus is one of Vienna’s architectural delights. This landmark is situated in the Landstraße district on the corner of Kegelgasse and Löwengasse and has become an integral part of Austria’s cultural heritage. The colorful house houses several ‘tree windows' makes is interesting.

Designed with all sorts of mosaics and tiles, there isn’t a straight line in sight on the Hundertwasser House. This apartment block, owned by the city of Vienna, is rented out to individuals which marks it is an attraction that can only be viewed from the outside. For those interested in further exploring Hundertwasser’s genius, the Hundertwasser Village is located right across the House.

For tourists who still aim for a closer look at Hundertwasser’s architectural vision, they can visit the Kunst Haus Wien building, designed by himself and home to a museum dedicated to his work. While this cottage of colours certainly isn’t as striking as it initially was, the Hundertwasserhaus remains a welcome respite from Vienna’s imperialist architectural styles.

History & Architecture of Hundertwasserhaus

Conceptualised by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and realised by architect Josef Krawina, the house stays true to Hundertwasser’s vision of harmony between nature and man. His revolutionary ideas of ‘tree tenants’, ‘window rights’ and ‘eye slits’ led to Leopold Gratz, the mayor of Vienna, declare that Hundertwasser should be given the opportunity to realise his ideas in the field of architecture by allowing him to build a housing project.

whacky building, colourful, Hundertwasserhaus — Source

While there was an initial amount of conflict concerning Krawina’s styrofoam style visualisation of the building and Hundertwasser’s more fluid, natural version, the house now features undulating floors, a roof covered with earth and grass, and towering trees growing from inside the rooms with branches growing outwards from the windows of the house.
Hundertwasser refused any payments ofr the house believing that he was protecting nature from being teritorialized by ugly concrete.

Highlights of Hundertwasserhaus

The house has a terrace café called ‘Kunst und Café’ coffee house on the ground floor of the Hundertwasserhaus, where a free film can be watched in which Friedensreich Hundertwasser leads viewers in person through "his" home.

The Kunst Haus Wien, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, lies a few minutes from Hundertwasserhaus. As is typical of Hundertwasser's buildings, there are hardly any straight lines to be found here. A permanent Hundertwasser exhibition and temporary exhibitions of other artists are shown here on an exhibition space of around 1,600 square meters.

kunst haus wien, museum, hundertwasser — Source

How To Reach Hundertwasserhaus

Subway: there is no station immediately nearby, but the U3 stations Wien Mitte-Landstraße and Rochusgasse are a short walk away. Wien Mitte-Landstraße is also a stop on the U4
Tram: simply catch tram line 1 to Hetzgasse, which is just a few metres from Hundertwasserhaus