DK Travel : Vienna : Hundertwasserhaus

Hundertwasserhaus

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Opened in March 1986, this fairytale-like house with onion spires, green roof and a multicoloured façade is one of the city’s most frequented landmarks. It was designed by the flamboyant Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser as a playful take on usually dull council (social) housing. In all his work Hundertwasser wanted to show that practical could also be beautiful. Today almost 200 people live in the 50 apartments, each of which has an individual decoration. Shrubs and trees on the balconies and roof gardens bring nature closer to city dwellers.
If making a visit to the Hundertwasserhaus, remember to respect the fact that these are private residences and remain unobtrusive.

Top 10 Features

1. Façade

1. Façade

The front of the house presents itself in bright shades of blue, yellow, red and white and each differently coloured section marks one apartment. What also springs to the visitor’s eye are the many trees on the rooftop.
2. Main Entrance

2. Main Entrance

Situated on Löwengasse, the main entrance is an open section leading to the inner courtyard of the building. The apartments above the main entrance are supported by colourful pillars. In front of the entrance is an attractive little fountain.
3. Onion Towers

Two golden glistening onion towers top the Hundertwasserhaus and lend the building an Oriental, romantic quality.
4. Irregular Windows

As Hundertwasser believed windows constitute a house’s soul, all of them vary in size and shape. Each of them is framed by a complementary colour.
5. Roof Gardens

Each of the apartments has access to a little piece of nature in the form of roof gardens and balconies that are scattered all over the building. The gardens have some 250 large trees, trimmed shrubs and a grass lawn.
6. Ceramic Line

The size of every apartment is visible as it is marked by an uneven line of ceramic tiles.
7. Decorations

The Hundertwasserhaus is decorated with various ornaments such as black, white and golden tiles. Statues placed on the corners of the balconies, painted animals and plants on the corridor walls, and roof gardens enhance the cheerfulness of the place.
8. Pillars

8. Pillars

A prominent feature of the Hundertwasserhaus is the range of brightly coloured, irregularly shaped, shiny pillars. Some of these pillars are integrated in the building and function as mere decoration, while others are more practical, supporting the gallery that runs along the first floor of the block.
9. Glass Front

The two towers of the house – those crowned by the onion domes – host the central staircase. Thanks to the glass fronts, by day they are always light and airy.
10. Pavement

10. Pavement

The area around Löwengasse is pedestrianized with relaxed seating and elegant lampposts.

Practical Information

Because the apartments are private residences and can’t be visited, enjoy the building from one of the several cafés in the complex, and stroll around the shops on the ground floor. Kegelgasse/ Löwengasse U-Bahn Landstrasse www.hundertwasserhaus.at Closed to the public