{"id":21493,"date":"2019-12-20T05:29:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T04:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=21493"},"modified":"2025-06-20T15:13:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T14:13:26","slug":"hundertwasser-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/hundertwasser-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Friedensreich Hundertwasser in Vienna"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/hundertwassersmall.jpg\" alt=\"Facade of the Hundertwasser Museum\" class=\"wp-image-21500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/hundertwassersmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/hundertwassersmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Although brought up in Vienna and an irregular resident here, it would only be fair to describe the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser as a citizen of the world. Nevertheless, he left a significant mark on the city&#8217;s physical and cultural landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/egon-schiele\/\">Schiele in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/gustav-klimt\/\">Klimt in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Use the info below to find the main locations of interest if you wish to follow in the great man&#8217;s footsteps (with a location map at the end).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hundertwasser: his work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s begin with places to see the results of his creativity&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kunst Haus Wien<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kunsthauswienhundertwasser2.jpg\" alt=\"Front fa\u00e7ade of the Kunst Haus Wien\" class=\"wp-image-69008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kunsthauswienhundertwasser2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kunsthauswienhundertwasser2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The top Vienna address for Hundertwasser fans)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might expect me to lead with the Hundertwasserhaus (see below) but the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/hundertwasser\/\">Kunst Haus Wien<\/a> is a better option for those interested in Hundertwasser&#8217;s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, you can actually go into this building, which Hundertwasser designed. Inside is the Hundertwasser Museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And you have a quadruple of delights here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First, the architecture, with its characteristic colourful fa\u00e7ade, tree tenants, curved walls and floors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Second, the museum exhibition, which chronicles Hundertwasser&#8217;s artistic evolution with the help of numerous models, works of art, and similar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Third, regular special exhibitions of contemporary art along a green theme, fitting the Hundertwasser ethos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fourth, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-kunst-haus-wien\/\">on-site Caf\u00e9 Friedlich<\/a> offers something a little different to the more traditional Viennese coffee houses. Go to the toilet while there (trust me on this)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Landing stage<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/weissgerberlaendehundertwasser.jpg\" alt=\"Weissgerber L\u00e4nde landing stage\" class=\"wp-image-47628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/weissgerberlaendehundertwasser.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/weissgerberlaendehundertwasser-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The same area is also notable for the Jugendstil buildings that line the road running parallel to the river)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A quick skip and jump takes you from the Kunst Haus Wien to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donaukanal\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34106\">Donaukanal<\/a> (Danube Canal), an arm of the Danube that runs through the city centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nature and hydrological engineers designed the Donaukanal, but landing stages dot the banks and Hundertwasser created the look of the one at Wei\u00dfgerberl\u00e4nde 28 (just a short distance from the museum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The paved walk along the river here is the Hundertwasser Promenade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hundertwasserhaus<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hundertwasserhaus2023.jpg\" alt=\"Fa\u00e7ade of the Hundertwasserhaus building\" class=\"wp-image-61152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hundertwasserhaus2023.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hundertwasserhaus2023-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Expect to find others admiring the building with you)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The distinctive 1985 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/hundertwasserhaus\/\">Hundertwasserhaus<\/a> apartment block has become one of Vienna&#8217;s prime tourist attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is &#8220;just&#8221; another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/mapsgeography\/wanderweg-11-hiking-trail\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35489\">council house<\/a> run by the municipal authorities&#8230;but only if you ignore the astonishing shapes, colours, and integrated vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of tours stop off here, so expect crowds. You can&#8217;t actually go inside, but Hundertwasser also helped design the small mall (the Hundertwasser Village) opposite the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spittelau Incinerator<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/spittelauincinerator.jpg\" alt=\"The Spittelau incinerator\" class=\"wp-image-48536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/spittelauincinerator.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/spittelauincinerator-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The golden ball near the top of the chimney has become a distinctive city landmark)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hundertwasser redesigned the chimney and entire fa\u00e7ade of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/spittelau\/\">Spittelau municipal incinerator<\/a> in the late 1980s. The facility continues to provide heat and warm water to thousands of households in Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some might argue the architectural impact exceeds even that of the more well-known Hundertwasserhaus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The standalone location away from other buildings also means you can get excellent photos, particularly when an appropriate sky provides an atmospheric backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tree tenants<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/treetenant.jpg\" alt=\"A tree tenant\" class=\"wp-image-48537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/treetenant.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/treetenant-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The building on the ground floor is a public library)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A first tree went into the fa\u00e7ade of the building at Alterbachstra\u00dfe 11 in 1981 as part of Hundertwasser&#8217;s tree tenant initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A plaque outside in German and English commemorates the event. The hornbeam tree you see now (at least when I last looked) replaced the original, which suffered damage during renovation work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upper Belvedere<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Belvedere Palace\" class=\"wp-image-13456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Upper Belvedere: not a Hundertwasser design; he was born a couple of hundred years too late for that job)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recent redesign of the permanent art exhibition at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/upper-belvedere-palace\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3521\">Upper Belvedere<\/a> saw Hundertwasser&#8217;s <em>224 The Large Path<\/em> painting reappear in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/biedermeier-to-interwar\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"13632\">Avant Garde section<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belvedere does rearrange its displays every now and then, though. I last visited in early June, 2025 and saw Hundertwasser&#8217;s work. But if you don&#8217;t find it there, numerous works by Gustav Klimt offer adequate compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hundertwasser: life &amp; more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna rarely celebrates Hundertwasser in the same way it worships Mozart or Beethoven. But one or two landmarks exist related to his life and achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Childhood home<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oberedonaustrasse.jpg\" alt=\"Obere Donaustra\u00dfe 12\" class=\"wp-image-48538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oberedonaustrasse.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oberedonaustrasse-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Sandwiched between the Augarten Park and the Donaukanal river)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rather inoffensive house located at Obere Donaustra\u00dfe 12 in the 2nd district provided a home for a young Hundertwasser.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/hundertwasserplaque.jpg\" alt=\"Hundertwasser plaque\" class=\"wp-image-48539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/hundertwasserplaque.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/hundertwasserplaque-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A rare bilingual commemorative plaque)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A plaque outside the building (in German and English) explains how the Nazis forced Hundertwasser and his Jewish mother to move here in 1938. They both survived the war, though the authorities murdered dozens of their relatives in concentration camps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/jewish-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"25806\">this article<\/a> for more sites, museums, and memorials related to Jewish Vienna. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/wwii-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"69411\">this one<\/a> for WWII locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ankerhaus<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ankerhaus.jpg\" alt=\"Top of the Ankerhaus\" class=\"wp-image-48540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ankerhaus.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ankerhaus-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Located right in the pedestrianised centre)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hundertwasser apparently had a studio at the top of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/ankerhaus\/\">Ankerhaus<\/a>, a multi-functional building on Vienna&#8217;s famous Graben boulevard. Another great son of the city, Otto Wagner, designed the house itself, which dates back to the mid-1890s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hundertwasser square<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A small square in Vienna&#8217;s 15th district bears the name Friedensreich-Hundertwasser-Platz, though it lies somewhat away from usual tourist routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ll add more locations if and when I come across them&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1iOrIVM2NXQVnv3C1Srpr5hQRTGy-mqYg\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although brought up in Vienna and an irregular resident here, it would only be fair to describe the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser as a citizen of the world. Nevertheless, he left a significant mark on the city&#8217;s physical and cultural landscape. Use the info below to find the main locations of interest if you wish to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-21493","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-footsteps","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21493"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84264,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21493\/revisions\/84264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}