Hello Architecture and Design enthusiasts, all Hivers as well!
Today, I will share with you a unique building designed by the famous viennese visual artist named Hundertwasser.
The Hundertwasserhaus....
..... is a residential building located in the 3rd District of Vienna that was designed by viennese artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser in collaboration with architects Josef Kravina and Peter Pelikan. Built between 1983 and 1985 on a 1273 square meter- plot, it has 50 apartments and 37 underground garages. The building is owned by the municipality of Vienna. Visitors can only see the exterior of this building because all apartments are fully occupied by private individuals.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Hundertwasser was an Austrian artist ((15 Dec. 1928 – 19 Feb. 2000) and architect who designed his housing projects and buildings according to his beliefs that a structure need not be straight. His real name was Friedrich Stowasser, the Sto is a slavic name which if translated into German means "one hundred or einhundert". His mother was jewish and his father was a Catholic... so as not to be persecuted under the Nazi Regime, he was baptized as a Catholic in 1935 during the Nazi Era.
All of his works are mostly crooked structures he designed according to his concepts and visions. His works became places of interest in the city for its uniqueness and therefore attracted many visitors who wanted to see his projects with their own eyes.
The houses designed by the artists are irregular in forms and were mostly incorporated with greens. We can see boldly colored facade and we can see trees all over the place particularly the roofs. He was a great environmentalist who believed that structures should go hand in hand with nature, which he had proven in his other works in different places and in his home in New Zealand where he lived for a while.
Hundertwasserhaus had been the most prestigious project which Hundertwasser made joyfully and willingly for the municipality of Vienna. It was said that he did not receive any compensation for this project and maybe the reason was because the city officials gave him free hand for the concept of this house and for whatever proposals he had for the builders. According to information from the workers, he was on the construction site every single day during the construction process.
Based on the lease agreement between the tenants and Municipality of Vienna, the tenants have the right to their own window. My interpretation on this is that they were given free-hand to choose the type and design of windows they want.
On the facade of the building, some trees are seen growing from the inside of a roofed terrace/balcony and has been growing further towards the exterior of the flat. Some of the tenants have a one storey flat others have two-storeys. And to be able to build a mini forest on the rooftop of the building, some tons and tons of soil were carried up to fill the intended green spaces.
The Uneven Floor Source
The flat floor is an invention of the architects. It fits engines ̵ not human beings.
People not only have eyes to enjoy the beauty they see and ears to hear melodies and noses to smell nice scents. People also have a sense of touch in their hands and feet.
An uneven and animated floor is the recovery of man's mental equilibrium, of the dignity of man which has been violated in our levelling, unnatural and hostile urban grid system.
The uneven floor becomes a symphony, a melody for the feet and brings back natural vibrations to man.
It is good to walk on uneven floors and regain our human balance. Architecture should elevate and not subdue man...
... Hundertwasser, 1991
The Hundertwasser Village is located vis a vis the Hundertwasserhaus. The building as such had been used as a factory for car tires before it was turned into a village that houses galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants/bars to cater for the visiting tourists. Finished in 1991, the concept was to turn the building into good infrastructures for visitors. The structure of the building remained as it was before, it was just refurbished with some building materials similar to the Hundertwasserhaus concept. Moreover, the rooftop of the Village had been planted with 30 trees and have now grown so lush after 3 decades of its existence.
If you happen to be in/or planning to visit our city, this is a
"must see place"!
Kegelgasse 37-39
1030 Vienna
Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000)
GIF by 