Architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser: biography, works, photos

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Viennese architect, who left behind fabulous and unusual houses, said that they do not consist of walls. The main thing, in his opinion, is the windows. The architecture-defying master has always had detractors who argue that his bright buildings, which look like dwarf dwellings, were not built for people.

The brilliant provocateur and cosmopolitan became famous throughout the world for his special view of art. An Austrian artist known for his eco-consciousness has planted trees by the thousands, claiming it is the duty of every human being.

Traveling instead of studying

Friedensreich Hundertwasser was born in Vienna in 1928. Researchers of his work are convinced that studying at the Montessori school influenced his passion for bright colors and instilled such a tender love for nature. After three months of study at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, he reflects on his own work under the influence of modern expressionists.

Determining that it is best to learn the world through practice and not from textbooks, the young man begins to travel, trying to find his own style in art. Envious people discussed the family that did not suffer in the war, which only multiplied itsa fortune that allowed the young man to travel comfortably around Europe.

Changing countries and cities, the artist was horrified by identical box houses. In his opinion, every person has the right to paint his window and the space next to it.

Symbol of unity and harmony

Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose biography was full of bright moments during an amazing life-long journey, chose as his symbol and calling card a snail crawling over grape leaves, carrying its spiral house. By this, he emphasized the unity of the inhabitants and their ecological dwelling.

And the lines of the spiral symbolized the infinity of the universe, impermanent and changing over time. This image of the harmony of the world, in which man coexists with nature, the artist projected onto his architectural objects. Being engaged in graphics, the abstractionist and surrealist enthusiastically drew colorful psychedelic spirals, which became the object of study by researchers of his work.

Safe Housing Manifesto

He even developed a manifesto where he described his ideal home. The architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose photo of the designed buildings surprises with unusual lines and bright colors, believed that a person should live in a safe and comfortable hole with a lot of windows, covered with green vegetation on top.

By the way, he made his dream come true in New Zealand, having built a unique building with a roof that smoothly turns into a hill, and local sheep come to nibble grass on it.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser and his fabulous houses

Vienna's most famous house, whose images often appear on the pages of architectural publications, was built over several years. As soon as the property, recognized as a local landmark, was put into operation, all the living spaces were filled, although the cost of an apartment in a colorful building, reminiscent of a gingerbread house from a fairy tale, was high.

The unique building, as if descended from the picture of the album, which was drawn by the unsteady hand of a child, gave shelter not only to people. The ecological concept developed by the architect about harmony with nature has found its expression here: not only the walls, but also the roof are twined with greenery, and the outlines of the house resemble a hilly landscape.

“The uneven floor is a melody for our feet, toning the human body. He returns the lost dignity of people, taken away in the usual construction,”Friedensreich Hundertwasser spoke about his Viennese creation. The houses he designed followed this principle, and none of his eccentric buildings showed flat surfaces.

Principle of individuality

Another important principle of Hundertwasser has come true here. Considering that there should not be identical buildings, Friedensreich Hundertwasser gave individuality to each apartment by painting the facade in different colors. A photo of a fabulous house is now taken as a keepsake by all the guests of Vienna. The artist did not forbid the residents to change the palette of the walls of the facade if they wished, but none of them took advantage of it.permission, and the house appears in its original form.

In an unusual building, in addition to 50 residential apartments, there are parking, cafes, children's rooms. And on the site next to the house and inside it (in apartments), about 250 trees were planted. The eminent author, who refused the due fee, considered his offspring a truly free home in which his dream came true, and was glad that an uglier building was not located on this place.

Architect or designer?

Expressing magical beauty in irregular, broken lines, the Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser was criticized. He was accused of not having any ideas about architecture, and the principle of individuality was perceived as an attempt to increase the cost of apartments. Many considered the outrageous artist a good decorator and designer who did not know the modern level of construction.

I must say that there was some truth in this: behind Friedensreich there were always professional architects who brought his original ideas to life.

USA winery

The winery in the Napa Valley is considered to be the iconic work of the enemy of classical forms in art. The building, erected outside the homeland, was designed and built for more than ten years. This is a building typical of an architect's work without right angles with broken lines.

Trees are planted on the roof-hill, and when viewed from a height, the building merges with the greenvalley of America. On the facade of the winery, which bears the name "Don Quixote", you will not be able to find the same doors and windows, which is why the finishing work took several years.

Architectural Doctor

“Facades of houses with straight lines are like concentration camps, and each individual window has the right to life,” emphasized Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the manifesto. The architect tried to bring to life his "wrong" architectural designs, which were not always reliable and required constant repairs, as in the case of the winery.

He called the houses built in the classical style boring and sick, indignant at the fact that the public tolerates their insensitivity and sterility. And he declared the need to introduce a new profession - an architectural doctor. Straight lines were considered the "tool of the devil" by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The works of the author fighting for freedom of expression differed from the recognized canons of architecture. According to the projects of the creator who created his own style, amazing houses around the world were built. And he himself lived on a ship on which he traveled all his life. The floating ship Regentag became his only home.

Dubious claims

Some of the architect's postulates caused smiles among sane people. Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who dreamed of natural harmony, believed that every person has the right to design and build what he wants. And if there is no such freedom these days, then classical architecture is not considered a real art.

True, after the fall of criticism, the rebel admitted the fallacy of his views. But he believed that all architects must be technical consultants who must obey the will of the future tenant.

Interesting facts

The real name of the artist is Friedrich Stowasser, and throughout his life he changed it several times

Unwilling to be like everyone else, Friedensreich Hundertwasser wore different socks and was not shy about it at all

The architect did not like even roofs, and therefore his large-scale works are decorated with gold and blue domes, shining in the sun

Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose biography was replete with outrageous antics, did not hesitate to go out in public naked, and in 1967 he read his manifesto to astonished spectators naked

• In 1959, with his friends, he made a so-called continuous performance, crawling at the feet of the audience. For two days he led a continuous line along the floor and walls, never reaching the end point in the center of the ceiling.