Architectural excursus

Good morning!

Today I would like to talk about Vienna’s architecture, as you have probably noticed there are several different styles represented in the Austrian capital. We are not at the lecture at some school of art so I would like to mention the main features briefly and acquaint you with my favorite creations. So, what architectural styles can you observe at the streets of Vienna?

  • Gothic – southern tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, St. Marie am Gestade church
  • Baroque – Lower Belvedere, Schönbrunn Palace, Karlskirche 
  • Biedermeier – multi-storey and multi-apartment houses, private buildings
  • Vienna Secession – the main building of the University of Vienna, Museum of Art History, Parliament building
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Certainly, in the 20th century new trends that were reflected in modern laconic structures appeared, for example, pay attention to the buildings of the Museums Quarter. However, I would like to highlight one architect whose outstanding work is unlike everything you’ve seen before.

You might have heard of Friedrich Stowasser, who uses the pseudonym Hundertwasser, and saw his creation – the apartment building located in the third district of Vienna.

In the north of it Vienna House of Arts is situated – a furniture factory restructured by the architect, which now gives visitors the opportunity to plunge into the world of creative architecture, to get acquainted with the works of Stowasser and visit temporary exhibitions.

The main features of the ingenious architect, which you could have seen observing one of the most famous buildings of Vienna – Hundertwasserhaus, are mosaic, golden or blue domes-poppies, spirals, minimization of flat surfaces and multicolor. Stowasser believed that it is impossible to live in house-boxes, so everyone should lean out of the window and paint the wall of the house in one’s color as far as the length of the hand allows. He also considered that in order to restore the damage that the society causes to nature it is necessary to plant trees on the roof and the balcony that is why grass and trees are the integral part of his creations.

It is such a coincidence that the windows of my dormitory are looking at the less famous creation of Stowasser – Boiler house Spittelau and every time I pass it by I can’t help to admire the imagination and originality of this talented architect.

Best wishes,

Anna