HUNDERTWASSER IN VIENNA
The strong colour contrasts and asymmetrical windows are characteristic of Hundertwasser’s architectural language.
THE ART OF LIVING WITHOUT STRAIGHT LINES
In Vienna's 3rd district, where classical architecture reigns, one building stands apart in wild defiance: Hundertwasserhaus. Created between 1983 and 1985 by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, it is not merely a building but a radical manifesto in colour, form, and ecology. It offers an alternative vision of how architecture can serve life, not suppress it.
FRIEDENSREICH HUNDERTWASSER: ARTIST, ARCHITECT, ECOLOGICAL VISIONARY
Born Friedrich Stowasser in Vienna in 1928, Hundertwasser developed a distinct artistic and architectural language that challenged the straight lines and right angles of modernism. He declared the straight line "godless and immoral" and advocated instead for organic forms and spirals as symbols of life. His 1958 Verschimmelungsmanifest gegen den Rationalismus in der Architektur (Manifesto Against Rationalism in Architecture) laid the philosophical foundation for his lifelong opposition to sterile and standardised architecture.
HUNDERTWASSERHAUS: A LIVING MANIFESTO
Hundertwasserhaus was built as a municipal housing project, containing 50 apartments, a doctor’s surgery, and two restaurants. The building is famous for its brightly coloured façades, irregular windows, undulating floors, and rooftop gardens. Trees grow out of windows and balconies, embodying Hundertwasser’s idea of "tree tenants" (“Baummieter”) and his belief that houses should be in harmony with nature.
He insisted that people have the right to personalise their living space, coining the term "window right" to describe the freedom to alter and decorate the space around one's window. As he once said, "An uneven floor is a divine melody for the feet."
ARCHITECTURE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
Hundertwasser was a pioneer of ecological design long before the term was fashionable. He argued for living rooftops, decentralised water systems, and an integration of natural elements into buildings. His vision of architecture was not functionalist but ethical and aesthetic – an attempt to reunite humanity with its environment. His ideals have since become reference points in sustainable urban design.
KUNSTHAUSWIEN: A MUSEUM OF HIS WORK
Just a few minutes' walk from Hundertwasserhaus is KunstHausWien, a museum dedicated to his work. Opened in 1991 in a former furniture factory, the building was redesigned by Hundertwasser himself. It features his signature elements: asymmetry, mosaics, uneven floors, and extensive plant life. The museum houses a permanent collection of his art, as well as rotating exhibitions focused on ecological and social themes.
A CONTEMPORARY SYMBOL
Hundertwasserhaus today stands as one of Vienna’s most visited and photographed landmarks. But more than a tourist attraction, it remains a statement, a critique of architectural conformity and an expression of what buildings might be: joyful, human, and ecologically responsible. In an age of climate awareness and urban alienation, Hundertwasser’s vision feels more relevant than ever.
Sources:
· Hundertwasser, F. (1958). Verschimmelungsmanifest gegen den Rationalismus in der Architektur.
· KunstHausWien (2024). Official institutional presentation of Hundertwasser's work and legacy. www.kunsthauswien.com
· Harlfinger, B. (2020). Friedensreich Hundertwasser: A Visionary of Ecological Design. Academia.edu
· Wien Energie / City of Vienna (2023). Documentation on Hundertwasser and the Spittelau project. www.wien.gv.at
A closer look at Hundertwasserhaus reveals the richness of its details: from tree-covered courtyards and undulating façades to ceramic columns and asymmetrical windows, every angle tells a story.
