Pink Staircase

To enter the exhibition of urban art (for photos please click here and here) in the basement of Kinsky Palace visitors had to go down this pink lit staircase.

Urban Art Exhibition #2

Here´s another work of the urban art exhibition "Escape the Golden Cage" at Kinsky Palace: "Transformer VI (Tower)" by XOOOOX.

Sunday Flowers #74

"Perfumes are the feelings of flowers." - Heinrich Heine

Urban Art Exhibition #1

"Escape the Golden Cage", an exhibition of urban art, currently takes place in the basement of Kinsky Palace in the city center. The presented works are inspired by street art, graffiti and the urban life. The exhibition runs through May, 31; the admission is free. The two paintings in this photo by Ellannah Sadkin are entitled "Sylvester and Tweetie" and "Pinky and the Brain".

Lower Belvedere - The Marble Gallery

The trophies of war stuccoed onto the walls of the Marble Gallery refer to the military successes of Prince Eugen of Savoy, whose apotheosis is presented in the stucco relief on the ceiling: He is enthroned well armed in centerfield and receives awards, whereas hatred and envy are dispelled from peace.

Lower Belvedere - The Gold Cabinet

Originally this was a conversation room with wall covering made of silk painted with trees branches and birds. Under Empress Maria Theresia the room was transformed into a gold cabinet (or mirror and porcelain cabinet). It is assumed that the gold cabinet presented itself with its new appearance in 1765.

Lower Belvedere

The Lower Belvedere was constructed from 1712 until 1716 for Prince Eugene of Savoy and designed by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, one of the most important Austrian baroque architects. The Lower Belvedere served as a residential palace whereas the Upper Belvedere served for representative purposes in particular. Besides this, the Lower Belvedere also held parts of the princes’ collections. Today it houses special exhibtions of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.

Ferryman

The bronze sculpture "Ferryman" (1997) by the British artist Tony Cragg is located in front of the Austrian Post Savings Bank (Österreichische Postsparkasse) building.

Österreichische Postsparkasse

The Austrian Post Savings Bank (Österreichische Postsparkasse) building is a famous Jugendstil building, designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner and constructed between 1904 and 1906. It occupies an entire city block and is regarded as an important early work of modern architecture. The entire façade is covered with square marble plates, these are attached to the main brick structure with mortar and ornamented with iron bolts with aluminium caps, which themselves form a pattern. The architect kept the design very minimalistic and simple, his aim was to convey the sense of a strong, impenetrable bank in which customers would know their money was safe. Only at the upper part of the exterior Wagner added more elaborated ornaments, such as statues of female angels holding laurels in both hands. Nowadays a part of the the building is used as museum (Wagner:Werk - Museum Postsparkasse).

Sweet Sunday #15

Today we are celebrating Mother´s Day. Mothers with a sweet tooth will surely be glad to be presented with some cupcakes.

Sunny Holiday

As I told you already Thursday was a holiday (Ascension), and as the weather was rather summerly, everybody was out and about. I took this photo in the Stadtpark where every lawn was occupied by people sunbathing, making picnics, reading, people-watching...

Façade Detail #24

Caryatids and a small balcony on the façade of a building in the city center.

Enjoying The Sun

Today is holiday (Ascension) and the weather is warm and sunny. I´m sure the outdoor areas of the cafés and restaurants will be crowded today - like last Saturday when I took this photo on Franziskanerplatz in the city center.

Palais Ferstel #7

The Palais Ferstel, created by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel between 1856 and 1860, nowadays houses a very elegant shopping arcade.

Tables & Chairs... Once Again

According to the weather forecast today will be a rainy and not paticularly warm day - the perfect excuse to publish another photo of deserted tables and chairs ;-) I love these bright colours! You have seen these tables/chairs already here and here.

Overgrown Façade

An overgrown façade in the city center.

Sunday Flowers #73

"Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. " - Jim Carrey

Antiques & Second Hand

Last autumn I discovered this antiques and second hand furniture shop in the 6th district. Yesterday I passed by another time and finally there were some pieces of furniture outside that I could photograph.

Red Reflections

Browsing my hard disk, I stumbled upon this photo taken two years ago in the garden of a friend of mine in Lower Austria. Sometimes I try to be artsy...

Café Kandinsky

I discovered the "Café Kandinsky" some weeks ago, it is located in a courtyard in the 7th district and affiliated to a gallery. I love the eye-catching posters on both sides of the door.

Balcony #9

It´s the season to enjoy balconies and terraces again! I discovered this small balcony in the 3rd district, the lantern and the olive tree caught my eyes.

Admiring Schiele

I love to watch people who look at works of art. Here´s a visitor admiring the painting "Krumau on the Moldova (The Small Town III)" by Austrian painter Egon Schiele at the Leopold Museum which houses the most substantial and most important collection of Schiele worldwide.

Museum Shop

In the museum shop at the Lower Belvedere you can buy catalogues, books, postcards and many other beautiful things things related to the current exhibtions but also enjoy the beautiful hall itself.

Sunday Flowers #72

"The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure." - D. H. Lawrence

I´m so Bananas

At first this shop window caught my eyes because of the soft colours of the garments, but taking a closer look I also loved the slogan - sometimes I´m feeling a little bananas myself...

Wien Mitte The Mall

Yesterday opened the largest shopping center in downtown Vienna, measuring 30.000 m² of retail space - "Wien Mitte The Mall". It´s one part of the Wien Mitte complex which houses also public transportation (Wien Mitte is the most important central transport hub) and office space. I haven´t been inside yet, but some weeks ago I passed by this new building and took this picture. It was somewhat weird to finally see this huge modern building after having passed by its ugly predecessor and then the construction site for years on my way home from my old job.

Tables & Chairs in Nussdorf

I still don't know why I'm so attracted to deserted tables and chairs but I just can't help it, they always catch my eyes. I have already passed by this outdoor area of a café in the 19th district several times, but last Sunday I finally took a picture.

Spring Has Finally Sprung #2

Here´s another photo of the beautiful Setagaya Park. In the background you can see the Japanese tea house which is vacant every time I´m in the park.

Spring Has Finally Sprung #1

After the long winter it seems as if nature is now "exploding" - blossoms wherever you look as you can see in this photo taken last Sunday in the Setagaya Park, a park created in the traditional japanese style (several ponds and streams, densely-planted garden elements). The name of the park derives from the Setagaya district in Tokyo, a sister district of Vienna´s 19th district.

Art & Cake

The project "Art and Cake" brings together art students as well as established artists and the best Austrian confectioners: Several artworks have been transformed into cakes. This photo shows the painting "Smurfnobs" by Robert Wilhelm aka "Trus" and the cake of the same title by two confectioners of the Kurkonditorei Oberlaa.

Sunday Flowers #71

"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning." - Lydia M. Child

Café Dommayer

Café Dommayer is one of Vienna's classic and historic coffeehouses. Originally it was founded in 1787 in a nearby location as a café and dance place. Both Johann Strauss I and his son Johann Strauss II played here.

All Mad Here

"We are all mad here" - this slogan welcomes the guests of the recently opened "25hours Hotel". Originally this building was a hall of residence, two years ago the transformation into a hotel started at the top floors (with a very popular bar in the attic), now the whole building is operated as hotel. The furniture of the rooms is very special: it has been inspired by the traditions of the circus institution. Sounds good to me. If I was a tourist I would love to check in here.

Façade Detail #23

Don´t forget to look up, you could miss beautiful details.

An Afternoon in the Park

It seems as if spring has finally sprung: the last few days were warm and sunny and the trees were budding. On Sunday afternoon I walked across the Volksgarten where a lot of people were enjoying the beautiful weather. By the way, the white building in the background is the Theseus Temple.

Mozarthaus Vienna

Domgasse 5 is the only one of Mozart’s apartments in Vienna that still exists today. The composer lived in Mozarthaus Vienna from 1784 to 1787 in grand style. The life and works of this musical genius are presented in and around this apartment on four exhibition levels. In addition to the historical Mozart apartment visitors can find out about the times in which Mozart lived and his most important works. The exhibition focuses on his years in Vienna, which marked a high point in his creativity. Mozarthaus Vienna also houses a shop, a concert hall and a learning center.

Vienna City Marathon

Yesterday the 30th Vienna City Marathon took place. The winners are Henry Sugut (2:08:19) and Flomena Cheyech (2:24:34), both from Kenia. Shortly after the start the participants passed by my place - this is what I saw from the window of my living room.

Sunday Flowers #70

"Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light." - Theodore Roethke

Walking And Sitting In The Sun

Last Monday was the first slightly warmer and sunny day after a very long winter, everybody who had the chance was out to enjoy the "unusual" weather.

Thieving Magpies

Thieving magpies in the window of a jewelry store in the city center.

Lemure

This "Lemure" sculpture by Austrian artist Franz West (1947-2012) is currently located in front of the MUMOK which hosts an exhibition (until May 26) dedicated to the work of the artist. Click here for a photo of another "Lemure Head", located on Stubenbrücke.

First Picnics

The beautiful weather on Monday enticed some people to have a first picnic in the Burggarten. In the background you can see the Jugendstil greenhouse which houses the restaurant "Palmenhaus" and the "Butterfly House".

Here Comes The Sun

Yesterday we were spoiled with sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures, and the outdoor areas of the cafés and restaurants finally came to life. A lot of people opted for the "Palmenhaus" (located in a Jugendstil greenhouse) in the Burggarten.

Still Rather Winterly

Due to the cold and cloudy weather the Stadtpark looks still rather winterly.

Sunday Flowers #69

"Flowers are happy things." - Sir P.G. Wodehouse

Good Idea

What is to be done if a scaffolding hides your restaurant and you don´t wont people to miss the place? You wrap colourful fabric around the poles! I think that´s a very good idea.

Silver Clouds

The kinetic space installation "Silver Clouds" by Andy Warhol is part of the current exhibition "Clouds. Fleeting Worlds" at the Leopold Museum. The clouds, filled with helium and oxygen, float through a room on air currents, bumping into each other and into the visitors. The clouds may be touched, and last Sunday some adolescents started a short "cloud fight". The exhibition runs through July 1.

Too Wet to Sit Outside

Let´s continue the series of "too .... to sit outside" photographs. Yesterday it was snowing again the whole day long, the snow melted immediately and so it was definitely too wet to sit outside. For the "too cold" photo please click here, for "too snowy" here. According to the forecasters there won't be any improvement in the near future. If I will be able to take a "too hot to sit outside" photo this year?

Yellow Tulips

It´s currently difficult to find signs of spring in Vienna. On Easter Sunday only these yellow tulips of the advertisement of a jewelry store added a springlike touch to the city.

Umbrellas

In case you were wondering how the weather was in Vienna on Easter Sunday: cold and sleeting. At least some umbrellas brightened this cloudy day...