Friedensreich

Friedensreich Hundertwasser (born Friedrich Stowasser; 15 December 1928 – 19 February 2000) was an Austrian painter and architect whose work is characterized by colorful, irregular forms and a rejection of straight lines. He adopted his long name, Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser, in the 1950s as part of his philosophical and ecological stance.

Rising to prominence in postwar Austria, Hundertwasser produced paintings and drawings that combined vibrant color with organic shapes. He later expanded into architecture, promoting designs that integrated nature into urban space, used non-rectilinear forms, varied façades, and living vegetation on roofs and balconies.

Notable projects include the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna (1980s), an apartment building known for its irregular floors, tree-covered balconies, and uneven windows; the Spittelau Waste Incineration Plant in Vienna, decorated with colored tiles and copper domes; and the Darmstadt Waldspirale, a residential complex with a spiraling, tree-lined exterior. The Green Citadel of Magdeburg, a planned complex begun during his lifetime, continued after his death.

His work contributed to contemporary discussions of sustainable architecture and the integration of nature in urban design. Hundertwasser also founded institutions to preserve his legacy, including foundations that promote environmental art and architecture. He died in Vienna in 2000.