Roaming around Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna
If you venture far enough from the busy Wien Mitte subway station into the heart of the residential Landstraße district of Vienna, you will be rewarded with an unexpected find - the oddly beautiful Hundertwasserhaus.
Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna
Trees are overtaking colorful balconies. Oddly-sized windows seem to be placed on the walls at random - wherever there is space. The unique building with round corners and intentional lack of straight lines looks like it was made out of playdough by an imaginative kindergartener.
Who builds cool houses like this to be residential apartments? Well, Hundertwasser did! You see, it's not only about being practical, but also about being beautiful and in harmony with nature.
Who builds cool houses like this to be residential apartments? Well, Hundertwasser did! You see, it's not only about being practical, but also about being beautiful and in harmony with nature.
Man has three skins. His own, his clothes and his dwelling. All these three skins must renew themselves, continually grow and change. When, however, the third skin, i.e. the outer wall of his house, does not change and grow like the first skin it petrifies and dies.
Houses are growing things like trees. Houses grow like plants, live and continually change.
<Hundertwasser, 1988>
A cafe in Hundertwasserhaus
According to Hundertwasser, every person is unique and deserves a unique home where he can be a king, and not a prisoner in a cell.
Some people say houses consist of walls. I say houses consist of windows... Windows in rank and file are sad, windows should be able to dance.
<Hundertwasser, 1990>
Unfortunately, only the occupants get to enjoy the inside of the house. The rest of us have to settle on walking around and occasionally peeking in the windows. However, here's what we know: each apartment has its own color and feel, and they all have wavy walls and irregularly tiled bathrooms. Also, the floors in the public corridors are uneven.
The uneven walkway becomes a symphony, it is a melody for the feet. The walkway makes the whole person vibrate.
<Hundertwasser, 1985>
Can you rent this place?
With only fifty apartments and no organized waiting list, it will take you a lot of patience and bit of luck. But private listings do occasionally appear on Austrian message boards. Just to give you an example, in 2008 you could have rented a two-bedroom on the first floor for just €767. Not too bad for such a famous building.
Would YOU go for it?
To see more of Hundertwasser's art and design, don't miss a permanent exhibition at Kunst Haus Wien not far from Hundertwasserhaus.
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