Museum Hundertwasser

As part of my solo trip to Prague, I also visited Vienna. My now-husband and I were fortunate enough to explore Vienna about 14 years prior. The primary purpose of both Vienna visits was to see some dear family friends. On my first trip, we saw many of the popular tourist sites. This trip was shorter and was focused on catching up with friends. I was lucky enough to be taken to KUNST HAUS WIEN by my friend and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Prior to my visit, I was unfamiliar with Friedensreich Hundertwasser and was blown away by his vast work and ecological perspective. He was an individual of many talents, produced amazing visual art and unique buildings, and was a thought-leader.

The Kunst Haus Wien building itself was designed by Hundertwasser, as are many others in Austria. Within the building, there is the Museum Hundertwasser and the Green Museum which displays rotating exhibitions. We visited the Hundertwasser permanent exhibit, enjoyed a bite to eat in the cafe, and walked around the outdoor space.

Everywhere I looked, it was abundantly clear that Hundertwasser was a strong voice in the ecological and sustainability movement. Throughout the space, there were plants, natural light, and bursts of colour. Hundertwasser was known for his dislike of the straight line and that was quite clear in the building — many of the floors were curved as were other surfaces.

Also as part of the exhibition were models of different buildings and communities. The community model seen below is “In the Meadow Hills” which became the Thermal Village Blumau.

While I greatly enjoyed seeing his visual art, learning about Hundertwasser’s life and his contributions to ecological thinking. Some of my favourite quotes include

Man is a guest of nature and should behave

Paradise can only be made by yourself, by your own creativity, in harmony with the creativity of nature

Hundertwasser travelled the world extensively and designed buildings in numerous countries including New Zealand, Japan, and the US. He was politically active not just in Austria but, in other countries he also spoke out against issues such as nuclear power and in favour of topics including ecological preservation.

If you are planning a trip to Vienna, the Kunst Haus Wien is an absolute must-see! There are also other buildings designed by Hundertwasser in Vienna that are worth checking out — they are pretty easy to spot due to their uniqueness.