The city of Vienna offers countless attractions that are well worth exploring during your visit.
For an extraordinary experience, we recommend checking out Hundertwasserhaus, a vibrant residential complex with flowing floors and trees that grow inside the buildings.
What is the Hundertwasserhaus?
The Hundertwasserhaus, or more commonly known as the “colorful little houses,” is a stunning complex in Vienna’s third district.
This unique housing project was designed by architect Joseph Krawina and constructed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser between 1983 and 1986.
The buildings showcase irregular shapes with vibrant facades, trees growing inside the structures, and branches peeking through the windows. The name pays homage to the visionary who conceptualized it, Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
In the third district, you’ll also find the striking Hundertwasser Village shopping center and the Hundertwasser Museum, where the artist’s works are on display. This neighborhood is undoubtedly one of the must-see sites in Vienna, known for its beauty and whimsical atmosphere.
Facade details and architecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpwbNM8fmdI
The colorful houses were originally commissioned by the city council to provide middle-class social housing.
Breaking away from conventional architectural norms, the design was initially not well-received.
From the outside, the facade resembles a giant puzzle of colors, featuring wave-like floors, irregular walls with ceramic motifs, and each floor painted in a different, vibrant color.
Lush greenery overflows from the balconies and rooftop, giving the impression of a woodland scene or a fairytale setting.
The Hundertwasserhaus is inhabited, so entry is restricted. Visitors can view the main entrance and peer into the inner hallway.
The building also sits near the river, making a panoramic cruise on the Danube an ideal way to admire the exterior views.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser believed that “a painter dreams of houses and of architecture that lets people be free, bringing dreams to life.”
This style, known as “playful architecture,” makes a visit to Hundertwasserhaus a must on any Vienna itinerary, as it leaves visitors spellbound by its charm.
Some aspects of this construction evoke the style of architect Antoni Gaudí, the master of Catalan Modernism, who designed marvels like Casa Batlló.
The artist: Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Friedensreich Hundertwasser was born on December 15, 1928, in Austria. He was the child of a Jewish mother and a Protestant father, who passed away a few months after his birth.
Baptized to protect him from the Nazis, he was also required to join the Hitler Youth.
After the war, Hundertwasser became a multifaceted artist—painter, architect, writer, and designer—drawing inspiration from an early age from the works of Egon Schiele.
His art is characterized by vivid colors and a refusal to use straight lines.
His architectural models are widely celebrated today for their incorporation of natural landscapes, using irregular forms that create harmony between human spaces and the environment.
The most famous flag created from his work is the Koru Flag. Similarly, he designed stamps for the Cape Verde islands and for the United Nations, as well as for the Geneva postal administration.
In total, this artist completed around 35 architectural works. Among the most notable are:
- The Mierka Getreidesilo Krems, constructed between 1982 and 1983.
- Rupertinum Salzburg
- St. Barbara’s Church, Bärnbach, from 1987 to 1988
- Dorfmuseum Roiten, 1987-1988
- Rueff Textile Factory, 1988
- Hundertwasser Village near Hundertwasser-Krawina Haus, Vienna, built from 1990 to 1991.
He was awarded Austria’s Grand Prize for Visual Arts in 1980. Hundertwasser also completed works in Germany, the United States, Japan, Israel, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser passed away in Berlin on February 19, 2000, at the age of 71 due to a heart attack.
The importance of vegetation and nature
Friedensreich Hundertwasser believed that living alongside nature brought positive energy to people.
Grass-covered rooftops reduce dust, noise, and heating costs, while also producing oxygen and mitigating climate concerns.
For Hundertwasser, ecology was a way of life, a means to shape his world, perceive reality, and interact with his surroundings.
The “colorful houses” may not be fully eco-friendly, lacking solar panels and wind turbines, but they keep people connected to nature, even allowing for small crops of fruits and vegetables on the rooftops.
Hundertwasser gave numerous speeches, including a significant one to the United States Senate, where he advocated for ecology over nuclear energy and called for architecture that respects both nature and humanity.
Visiting the museum
Another of his major projects was the **Hundertwasser Village shopping center**. If you’re planning a 3-day trip to Vienna, we highly recommend exploring it from the inside.
Located in Vienna, right across from the colorful houses, the building was once a tire workshop. The large influx of visitors to Hundertwasser’s house inspired the idea for Hundertwasser Village.
The museum, situated in a uniquely designed building, holds the only permanent collection of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s work.
Inside, you’ll find a fascinating collection of his vibrant paintings, graphic works, stamps, flags, clothing, and architectural designs.
The use of bold colors and avoidance of straight lines are evident throughout the museum, with the wide range of exhibits leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
In Vienna’s first “green museum,” you can also see Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s visionary ecological initiatives. Here, he experimented with rooftop vegetation and incorporated “tenant trees” into the facade.
Thanks to his innovative ecological ideas, Kunst Haus Wien has become a place of creativity and connection for artists.
Dedicated to exploring themes like sustainability, climate change, recycling, urbanism, and social responsibility, the museum critically engages with some of today’s most pressing issues.
After visiting Hundertwasserhaus, a fantastic way to explore more of Vienna at your own pace is with the hop-on hop-off bus tour. This tour allows you to stop at various attractions, including Hundertwasserhaus, giving you a unique view of the city. More information and tickets here.
How to reach Vienna’s Hundertwasserhaus
Hundertwasserhaus is located at the intersection of Kegelgasse and Löwengasse streets.
If you’re in the city, there are several ways to get there:
Method 1
Take the Vienna metro to Schwedenplatz. From there, hop on tram number 1 and get off at the Hetzgasse stop.
Once you’re off at Hetzgasse, it’s only a 50-meter walk to Hundertwasserhaus.
Method 2
This route is a bit more complicated. First, take the Rochusgasse metro, and from there, walk for about 10 minutes.
The trickiest part of this route is finding Razumovskigasse after you leave the metro.
If you have any trouble, feel free to ask locals—they are generally very friendly and will be happy to assist.
After finding Razumovskigasse, continue straight until you reach the major intersection at Marxergasse and then head to Löwengasse.
Follow the signs, and you shouldn’t get lost. However, taking the tram is a simpler, easier option.
So if Austria is in your vacation plans, Vienna’s colorful houses are a must-see spot!