Name: Hundertwasser House
Address: Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien, Austria
Rating: 4.4

Artist's creation of brightly painted, natural apartment block with a forested roof & balconies.

Schönbrunn Palace

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Prater

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Belvedere Palace

Schönbrunn Palace Park

The Hundertwasser House was built between 1983 and 1985, showcasing a unique architectural style that blends art and nature.

Construction Period

More than 200 trees and shrubs adorn the balconies and roof terraces, transforming the Hundertwasser House into a vibrant green oasis in the heart of Vienna.

Green Oasis

At the 'Kunstcafe' on the ground floor, visitors can watch a free film where Friedensreich Hundertwasser personally guides viewers through his iconic creation.

Hundertwasser's Vision

Each resident of the Hundertwasser House has the right to decorate the façade around their windows, resulting in a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns.

Façade Freedom

Hundertwasser, known for his environmental and sustainability ideas, is considered one of the first green pioneers in Europe, making the Hundertwasser House a testament to his vision.

Sustainability Focus

Hundertwasser House

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna, Austria, is not just an apartment complex, but a whimsical embodiment of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's artistic philosophy. Completed in 1986, its undulating facade rejects straight lines, embracing irregularity as the essence of nature. Over 250 trees and shrubs sprout from balconies and rooftops, blurring the lines between the built and natural world.  Each of the 52 apartments boasts unique floor plans and windows of varying sizes, a testament to Hundertwasser's belief in architectural individuality.  Look closely and you'll find colorful ceramic columns, shimmering mosaics, and whimsical details that surprise and delight.  Even the floors, intentionally uneven, invite a different kind of engagement with the space.  Hundertwasser, a staunch critic of rationalist architecture, envisioned a space where residents could actively shape their living environment, even encouraging them to personalize their facades. This architectural marvel stands as a vibrant testament to his vision, a whimsical oasis in the heart of Vienna.

Introduction

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a radical departure from conventional architecture, embodying a philosophy that celebrates irregularity and organic forms.  Architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, rejecting the sterile lines of modernism, envisioned a building that mirrored the natural world, where straight lines are an anomaly. This philosophy manifested in the building's undulating facade, devoid of any straight lines, and adorned with a patchwork of colorful ceramic tiles, reminiscent of an artist's palette.  Windows, each unique in size and shape, appear almost haphazardly placed, further defying architectural norms.  This unconventional approach extends beyond aesthetics. Hundertwasser championed the integration of nature into urban environments. The building is crowned with a verdant rooftop garden, a testament to his belief in "tree tenants" having equal rights to human inhabitants.  Inside, floors undulate like rolling hills, challenging the very notion of level ground. This unconventional design, far from being merely whimsical, reflects a deeper philosophy that challenges the uniformity of modern architecture and embraces the beauty of imperfection and the integration of nature into our built environment.

Architectural Innovation

While Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the architect of the Hundertwasser House, rejected being labeled an Art Nouveau architect, the building whispers echoes of the movement's organic forms and decorative motifs. The undulating facade, shunning straight lines like its Art Nouveau predecessors, ripples with colorful mosaics reminiscent of the stylized floral patterns found in the works of Antoni Gaudí or Victor Horta.  Windows, appearing like individual eyes peering out from the building, are framed with brightly colored ceramic tiles, echoing the decorative exuberance of Art Nouveau architecture.  Hundertwasser's integration of nature, evident in the trees sprouting from balconies and the rooftop garden, aligns with the Art Nouveau ethos of harmonizing the built environment with the natural world. This organic sensibility, a hallmark of Art Nouveau, is further emphasized in the irregular, almost whimsical, layout of the building, a clear departure from the rigid, geometric forms of traditional Viennese architecture.  The Hundertwasser House, though a product of the late 20th century, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Art Nouveau, its spirit subtly woven into the building's unconventional beauty.

Art Nouveau Influences

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a vibrant testament to sustainable design principles, seamlessly blending nature and architecture. Its undulating facade, devoid of straight lines, mimics the organic forms found in nature, while the extensive use of reclaimed materials minimizes its environmental footprint.  Rooftop gardens and terraces, teeming with trees and shrubs, provide insulation, absorb rainwater, and reduce the urban heat island effect. This integration of nature extends indoors, with trees growing from the floors, their branches reaching out from windows, blurring the lines between the built and natural environments.  Hundertwasser's belief in "window right" is evident in the building's unique facade, where residents were encouraged to personalize the areas around their windows, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the building's upkeep. This approach promotes social sustainability by creating a strong sense of community and shared ownership. The Hundertwasser House, with its whimsical design and commitment to ecological principles, serves as a powerful example of how architecture can be both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible.

Sustainable Design Principles

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a vibrant testament to the idea that social housing can be both beautiful and socially responsible.  Conceived by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who famously abhorred the uniformity of conventional architecture, the building challenged the very notion of affordable housing. Hundertwasser envisioned a space where nature intertwined with design, and residents had a voice in shaping their living environment.  He famously waived his architect fee, declaring that it was better to have a building adorned with his vision than another bank in the city.  The building, with its undulating floors, vibrant facades, and over 200 trees and shrubs growing from balconies and rooftops, embodies this philosophy. Each apartment is unique, with windows of varying sizes and shapes, rejecting the standardized layouts typical of social housing projects. This commitment to individuality extends to the building's design, where residents were given the freedom to decorate the areas around their windows, adding a personal touch to the building's exterior.  The Hundertwasser House, though sometimes criticized for its unconventional aesthetics, remains a powerful example of how social housing can be innovative, aesthetically pleasing, and contribute to a sense of community.

Social Housing Experiment

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna bursts with a childlike wonder that echoes the spirit of Naïve Art. Its whimsical irregularity, a deliberate rejection of straight lines and conformity, mirrors the untutored style of Naïve artists. Like a child's drawing brought to life, bright colors dance across its façade, each hue chosen not for its realism but for its emotional resonance. Windows, like curious eyes, peek out from unexpected places, their uneven placement defying architectural norms in a celebration of individual expression, a hallmark of Naïve Art. The building's undulating walls, adorned with colorful ceramic tiles, recall the textured brushstrokes and bold outlines often found in Naïve paintings.  This rejection of traditional aesthetics extends to the rooftop, where trees sprout from the building, blurring the lines between nature and architecture in a manner reminiscent of the dreamlike landscapes often depicted by Naïve artists. The Hundertwasser House, much like a Naïve artwork, invites us to experience the world with fresh eyes, embracing imperfection and celebrating the beauty of individuality.

Naïve Art Aesthetics

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a vibrant rejection of the rigid lines of Viennese Modernism's architectural rationalism. While architects like Otto Wagner championed simplicity and functionality, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the mastermind behind this unconventional building, embraced irregularity and organic forms.  Hundertwasser, though emerging amidst the Viennese Modernism movement, took a divergent path, drawing inspiration from art nouveau, particularly the works of Antoni Gaudí. This is evident in the building's undulating facade, a direct challenge to the straight lines favored by the likes of Adolf Loos, a prominent figure in Viennese Modernism. The house's colorful ceramic tiles, uneven floors, and integration of nature directly contradict the modernist principles of minimalism and industrial materials.  Hundertwasser's vision, embedded within the Hundertwasser House, presented a counter-narrative to the Viennese Modernism movement, emphasizing individuality, the human connection to nature, and an artistic expression that defied the era's pursuit of functionality.

Viennese Modernism

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a vibrant manifesto of organic architecture, seamlessly blending nature and human habitation.  Rejecting the sterile lines of conventional architecture, Hundertwasser conceived a structure that mirrors the irregularity and spontaneity of the natural world. Undulating walls, devoid of a single straight line, mimic the curves of a forest floor, while brightly colored facades, adorned with irregular ceramic tiles, evoke a patchwork of wildflowers. Windows, each unique in size and placement, appear organically scattered, as if naturally occurring openings in a tree trunk.  This celebration of irregularity extends to the rooftop, where a verdant landscape of trees, shrubs, and grasses flourishes, blurring the lines between the built and natural environments.  Hundertwasser believed that incorporating nature was not merely aesthetic but essential to human well-being. This philosophy is evident in the "tree tenants" –  trees given legal residency, their leafy canopies bursting from windows and balconies, integrating nature into the very fabric of the building. The Hundertwasser House, with its whimsical charm and profound respect for the natural world, serves as a powerful testament to the enduring potential of organic architecture.

Organic Architecture

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna, Austria, stands as a powerful testament to the enduring controversies surrounding public art. Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this unconventional residential building, with its undulating floors, vibrant colors, and whimsical architectural elements, ignited fierce debates upon its completion in 1985. Critics viewed it as a jarring departure from Vienna's traditional architecture, accusing Hundertwasser of disregarding the city's aesthetic heritage. They argued that the building's unconventional design clashed with the surrounding historical structures, disrupting the visual harmony of the neighborhood. Some even went so far as to label it an eyesore, a gaudy imposition on the cityscape. 

However, proponents celebrated the Hundertwasser House as a bold rejection of architectural conformity, praising its celebration of individuality and its challenge to conventional notions of beauty. They saw it as a vibrant expression of artistic freedom, injecting a much-needed dose of whimsy and color into Vienna's urban fabric. The building's unconventional design, they argued, fostered a sense of playfulness and wonder, enriching the public space and sparking dialogue about the role of art in society. The Hundertwasser House, therefore, remains a potent symbol of the ongoing debate between artistic expression and public acceptance, a physical manifestation of the tensions that can arise when art intersects with the shared spaces we inhabit.

Public Art Controversy

The Hundertwasser House in Vienna stands as a testament to architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser's belief in harmonious coexistence between nature and urban living.  The building's undulating facade, rejecting the straight line as "unnatural," incorporates irregular windows of varying sizes, each uniquely framed to reflect the individuality of its residents and their relationship with the outdoors.  This unconventional design extends to the roof, where trees and shrubs flourish in planters and on terraces, effectively integrating nature into the building's structure.  This "tree tenant" concept, as Hundertwasser called it, provides not only aesthetic appeal but also insulation, contributing to the building's energy efficiency.  Inside, the integration of nature continues with interior spaces flowing seamlessly into outdoor areas, blurring the lines between the built and natural environments.  Even the floors, paved with uneven tiles, mimic the organic irregularity of forest paths, further emphasizing Hundertwasser's vision of architecture that embraces, rather than separates from, the natural world.  The Hundertwasser House, with its whimsical yet profound design, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrating nature into our urban spaces for the benefit of both residents and the environment.

Hundertwasser House

Did You Know?

Construction Period

Green Oasis

Hundertwasser's Vision

Façade Freedom

Location