Administration Building by Otto Wagner

The administration building of the Municipal Department "Water Management" was designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner. It was erected in 1899 and is located next to the Nussdorf weir and lock, at the point where the Danube Canal leaves the Danube. The building's roof features a platform that served as an observation post.

Art Nouveau Mosaic

I recently discovered this beautiful Art Nouveau mosaic by Leopold Forstner on a façade in the 4th district.

Art Nouveau Building

During my Sunday afternoon walk I passed by this beautiful Art Nouveau building in the 6th district.

Gild the Dome!

The dome of interwoven golden laurel branches of the Secession building is composed of 2.500 leaves and more than 300 berries. It was constructed in 1897/98 based on designs by Austrian architect Joseph Maria Olbrich. Currently the building and the dome are undergoing renovations. By paying € 100,- you can contribute to preserving the dome, an important Viennese landmark, and your name will be listed on an electronic roll of honor (unless you prefer to remain anonymous). For further information please click here.

Strudlhofstiege

The outdoor staircase "Strudhofstiege" was opened in November 1910. It is  is an important Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) work and is named after the sculptor and painter Peter Strudel who owned property on the street above the staircase. The Austrian author Heimito von Doderer wrote a famous novel named after the staircase: "Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre" (The Strudlhof Steps or Melzer and the Depth of the Years).

Fillgraderstiege

The Fillgraderstiege in the 6th district was built from 1905 to 1907 and designed by Max Hegele in an Art Nouveau style. The stairs connect the two streets Fillgradergasse and Theobaldgasse. In 2004 the Fillgraderstiege was named the fourth most beautiful steps in Europe in a poll of European art professors.

The White Angel Pharmacy

The "White Angel Pharmacy" existed as early as 1587, albeit in a different location. The pharmacy relocated a couple of times before it arrived to its current site. The building was designed and built by Austrian painter and architect Oskar Laske in 1901/02. The Art Nouveau mosaic decoration on the facade is very eye-catching.

Majolikahaus

The Art Nouveau Majolikahaus (1898-1899) in the 6th district was designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner. The ornate building is namend after the weather-proof, ceramic tiles painted in floral designs on its facade as in majolica pottery.

Schützenhaus

The "Schützenhaus" on the banks of the Danube Canal was designed by Austrian Art Nouveau architect Otto Wagner as one of severals flood control structures when, at the end of the 18th century, it was intended to convert the Danube Canal into a freight and winter habour. In 2010 the edifice was revitalized and transformed into a restaurant.

Inside the French Embassy #1

During the "Day of the Open Memorials" last September I managed to finally visit the French Embassy. The Art Nouveau building was designed by Georges Chedanne; Tony Selmersheim was responsible for the interior decoration which was created by the most renowned French and Austrian artists and craftspeople of the time. Let's start our tour with the "Salon doré".

Strudlhofstiege

The outdooir staircase "Strudlhofstiege", an important Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) work, was opened in November 1910. It is named after the sculptor and painter Peter Strudel who owned property on the street above the staircase. In 1951 the Austrian author Heimito von Doderer published a famous novel named after the staircase: "Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre" (The Strudlhof Steps or Melzer and the Depth of the Years).

Façade Detail #33

An Art Nouveau tree on the façade of an apartment building in the 7th district.

Doorway #6

A beautiful Art Nouveau doorway in the 7th district. By the way, according to the Mercer 2014 Quality of Living Rankings, Vienna has been ranked as the city with the world’s best quality of living for the 5^th year in a row. For more information please click here.

Beautiful Door

A beautiful door with Art Nouveau ornaments in the 8th district.

Façade Detail #28

 A beautiful Art Nouveau façade in the the 3rd district.

Breaking The Rules: Bratislava #3

The beautiful Art Nouveau Palace of the Hungarian Exchange Bank in the main square.

Façade Detail #20

The Wienzeile n° 38 building was designed by famous Austrian architect Otto Wagner, the beautiful golden ornaments  were done by Koloman Moser.

Secession Building - Detail #2

The motto of the Secessionist movement is written above the entrance of the building: "To every age its art, to art its freedom". The beautiful dome consists of 3000 gilt leaves and 700 berries.

Secession Building - Detail #1

Joseph Maria Olbrich integrated a very symbolic language in the building: The entrance area of the Secession building is decorated by the masks of the three Gorgons, which symbolise architecture, sculpture and painting. The side elevations also feature owls (not in the photo) - the Gorgons and the owl are attributes of Pallas Athene, the godess of wisdom, victory and the crafts. The photo also shows the dominant symbol in the building - the laurel leaf.

Secession Building

The Secessin building is an exhibition hall built in 1897 by Joseph Maria Olbrich as an architectural manifesto for the Vienna Secession (also known as "the Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession") which was formed that same year by a group of Austrian artists including painters, sculptors, and architects. The first president of the Secession was Gustav Klimt, and Rudolf von Alt was made honorary president. The Secession artists objected to the prevailing conservatism of  the long-established fine art institution Vienna Künstlerhaus with its traditional orientation toward Historicism. The construction of the Secession building, a key work of Viennese Art Nouveau, was finished after only 6 months. Needless to say that the architecture didn´t meet the taste of that time: The building was dismissed as a "a bastard between temple and warehouse" and "a cross between a greenhouse and a blast furnace", the dome was compared to "a head of cabbage".