Hundertwasser in Vienna

Our hotel is in the Langstrasse District in Vienna, an inner city area that is relatively close to the city centre and main attractions. Langstrasse Hauptstrasse is a long street that runs from the old town centre with the hotel at the opposite end.

On a cool and very windy day, we went in search of Hundertwasserhaus, an apartment building designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. As well as the apartment building, Hundertwasser also designed the building in which Kunst Haus Wien or Hundertwasser Museum is located a few blocks away. The Hundertwasserhaus stands out in the street of classically inspired buildings with its natural foliage and trees spilling over the edges and the curving walls rendered in bold colours. The colours do appear faded and looks old but the vines and foliage are taking over doing what Hundertwasser intended, to make the building a part of nature.

The pedestrian area between the apartment building and the village has a fountain and the paved and tiles area is intentionally undulating because Hundertwasser did not like straight lines but rather created a natural ground. The uneven ground is a bit disorienting as if tree roots have invaded the paved ground. The same floors exists inside his buildings.

Across the road from the Hundertwasserhaus is the Hundertwasser Village, an arcade of shops and restaurants built in the style of Hundertwasser.

Inside in Hunderwasser village

A few blocks from the Hundertwasserhaus is the Kunst Haus Wien or Hundertwasser Museum. It is also a gallery space for other artists. While renovations were being done to the outside, you could still see parts of the building. The foyer had its undulating floor with lots of black and white and bold coloured gloss tiles. The Hundertwasser Collection was on the first floor with other artists on higher floors and the basement. We stopped for an iced coffee in the Cafe.

Bathroom in the building