The Strange Architectural Creations of Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Friedensreich Hundertwasse (1928–2000) is known to be an Austrian painter, architect, and sculptor best known for his architecture characterized by colorful, ornamental, and biomorphic shapes. He first became known for his painting artworks but later on he became more renowned for his unique architectural styling.

Hundertwasser incorporated his decorative, labyrinthine spirals into his paintings, architecture and designs for postage stamps and flags. He was Inspired by the Vienna Secession movement, especially the work of Austrian painters Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. He is also known for his own theory of "transautomatism", which was inspired by the Surrealist concept of automatism, and sought to loosen the rigid rules of conventional art to emphasize the viewer’s experience.

It was in the 1950's when Hundertwasser began designing architectural projects. These designs use irregular forms, and incorporate natural features of the landscape. The Hundertwasserhaus apartment block in Vienna is one famous example. This building has undulating floors, a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from windows. He took no payment for the design of Hundertwasserhaus, declaring that the investment was worth it to "prevent something ugly from going up in its place".