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The Hundertwasser house is an apartment complex in Vienna designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Constructed between 1983 and 1985, the city gave Hundertwasser, and his co-author architect Joseph Krawina, free reign of the design. Hundertwasser wanted a building that was closer to nature, which is why there are so many trees, and without any unnatural straight lines. He liked bright colors and whimsical shapes which is why the house looks the way that it does today.
The house features uneven lines, a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from windows. There are 52 apartments, four offices, 16 private terraces and three communal terraces. The houses can only be viewed from the outside. However, across from the houses is a village also designed by Hundertwasser that you can enter. Inside are cafes and gift shops. It’s worth wandering through it, but I’m sure buying anything there would be expensive. Nearby is the Kunst Haus Wien, which is home to a permanent Hundertwasser exhibition.
All of this interesting design makes for a fun walk through. All the colours really catch your eye and there always seems to be something interesting to look at.
Walking on those steps sure felt funny.
Look! I match 🙂
Have you seen any of Hundertwasser’s work while in Austria? Do you like this style or is it too random and crazy for you?
Hundertwasserhaus
Kegelgasse 36-38
1030 Vienna, Austria
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Corinne says
April 15, 2014 at 11:27 AMI love Hundertwasser. We have a small museum of his stuff here in Schweinfurt. Love your pics.
Adelina says
April 15, 2014 at 9:53 PMOh very cool! I didn’t know that he had museums elsewhere outside of Vienna.
Rachel M says
April 16, 2014 at 5:48 AMInteresting, looking at the exterior photos i would easily assume it’s an old building being swallowed by nature.
Adelina says
April 16, 2014 at 4:46 PMHaha, it does sort of look like that doesn’t it?
noel says
April 17, 2014 at 4:43 PMI never made it to this historic place when I visited, it is quite eclectic…thanks for showing us some of the photo highlights.
Adelina says
April 17, 2014 at 11:52 PMThanks Noel! Eclectic is the perfect word to describe this building.
budget jan says
April 17, 2014 at 10:39 PMNo, I have not been there. I love random and crazy on the outside of a building but like it fairly normal in the living space. 🙂
Adelina says
April 17, 2014 at 11:50 PMYup, I’m with you. I don’t think I could stand my living room or bedroom with crazy colours or uneven flooring.
Mary {The World Is A Book} says
April 18, 2014 at 6:37 AMThis looks so cool and awesome. It’s almost Seuss-like. Beautiful photos and i love the stairs. If I ever make it to Vienna, this would be a definite stop.
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 3:57 PMThanks Mary! It does look a bit like Dr. Seuss. I wonder if the cat in the hat would come wandering around 😉 I hope you get to Vienna one day!
Margo says
April 18, 2014 at 7:48 AMWhat a funky little place – and how VERY different from the rest of Vienna. I’ll have to stop by next time I’m there!
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 3:56 PMFor sure, it’s so strange to stumble upon it after all the old and imposing buildings around the city. I hope you get a chance to check it out for yourself!
Caitlyn says
April 18, 2014 at 8:18 AMI loved seeing the Hunertwasser House – I just checked out the facade and the lobby though. It was so quirky, as if it would be something you’d find in Berlin rather than Vienna 🙂
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 3:55 PMYea, it definitely channels more of a Berlin vibe for sure, but I like that it’s in Vienna. Gives the city a little bit more of an edge.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
April 18, 2014 at 10:09 AMI really like the funky feel of this place, especially the fountain and the archway behind it. Kalke Village looks like a place where I’d like to hang out for a bit. Hundertwasser reminds me of Gaudi.
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 3:54 PMI haven’t been to Barcelona, but it does look quite similar to Gaudi’s style from the photos I’ve seen doesn’t it? Kalke village was definitely a lot of fun to wander around. Lots of interesting things to look at.
Katrina says
April 18, 2014 at 7:57 PMHow COOL!!! I’m more of a “traditionalist” when it comes to architecture, but I’ve got to admit that this crazy style is pretty awesome!
And p.s. love your dress. 🙂
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 3:53 PMThanks Katrina! I agree, its definitely cool to look at. I’m not sure how I’d feel living in it though!
Ming says
April 19, 2014 at 4:52 PMWhat a fun and whimsical place! Good thing you were wearing flats for those uneven stairs. I’ll get to Austria…someday soon.
Adelina says
April 19, 2014 at 6:43 PMThanks Ming. For sure, I don’t think it would be very fun to navigate those stairs in heels!
eileen @ FamiliesGo! says
April 21, 2014 at 5:09 PMi’d never heard of this artist until my daughter’s preschool class made HundertWasser houses out of shoe boxes. But very neat. I would seek out his work if I were in a city where he worked.
Adelina says
April 22, 2014 at 10:50 PMWow, neat! What did her house look like? It sounds like it would have been a lot of fun to make!
eileen @ FamiliesGo! says
April 22, 2014 at 11:05 PMthe wrapped shoe boxes in paper, made windows and doors and made broad wavy stripes.
Sam says
May 14, 2014 at 10:24 AMWith the amount of time I’ve spent in Austria and the number of times I’ve passed through Vienna, you’d think I would have been to see this building, but I still haven’t. Maybe next month when I go back to teach again…?!
Adelina says
May 17, 2014 at 11:34 PMYes! You should definitely go check it out. It doesn’t take too long and its really interesting.
Edmund FEllinger says
September 26, 2016 at 11:14 PMThanks for your wonderful pictures !