Majolika-Haus (Majolica House), Vienna
Majolica House is one of those rare spots in Vienna (and probably further afield, too) where you can see flowers bloom not in the garden, but across the fa莽ade. This eye-catching beauty is the work of Otto Wagner, Vienna鈥檚 poster boy for the Secessionist movement. During his 鈥淚鈥檓 done with Baroque鈥� phase, Wagner decided to ditch the frills and go full-on floral with clean lines and tiled elegance. The building鈥檚 name comes from its ceramic tiles, dripping with pinks, greens, and blues in swirling botanical glory. Think wallpaper for the outside walls, only waterproof and wildly photogenic.
Wagner鈥檚 architectural rebellion was all about simplicity with flair. No ornate carvings, no dramatic cornices鈥攋ust smooth surfaces and windows that mind their own business. The outside hinted at the inside: clean, modern, functional. Still rectangular, sure, but very much a rebel in a world of curvy cupolas and frilly stonework. Today, it鈥檚 still considered a top-tier Art Nouveau masterpiece, minus the ego...
Not far off is House No. 38, where Wagner teamed up with fellow art renegades. You鈥檒l spot Koloman Moser鈥檚 bold reliefs and Othmar Schimkowitz鈥檚 gilded stucco medallions catching sunlight like they know they're fabulous. Then there鈥檚 a more modest building at No. 3 K枚stlergasse鈥攔umored to be Wagner鈥檚 own residence. Understated, of course, because nothing says 鈥渁rchitect鈥檚 ego鈥� like hiding in plain sight.
And when you鈥檙e ready to change levels鈥攍iterally鈥攈ead down into Kettenbr眉ckengasse subway station, also a Wagner design. It鈥檚 where style meets utility with such grace, you might forget you鈥檙e just waiting for a train.
Now, onward鈥擵ienna doesn鈥檛 admire itself...
Pro tip:
Go on a bright day, and bring binoculars. Seriously. The details tucked under balconies and along the eaves are worth the squint. Wagner wasn鈥檛 just designing buildings鈥攈e was composing symphonies in ceramic and stucco.
Wagner鈥檚 architectural rebellion was all about simplicity with flair. No ornate carvings, no dramatic cornices鈥攋ust smooth surfaces and windows that mind their own business. The outside hinted at the inside: clean, modern, functional. Still rectangular, sure, but very much a rebel in a world of curvy cupolas and frilly stonework. Today, it鈥檚 still considered a top-tier Art Nouveau masterpiece, minus the ego...
Not far off is House No. 38, where Wagner teamed up with fellow art renegades. You鈥檒l spot Koloman Moser鈥檚 bold reliefs and Othmar Schimkowitz鈥檚 gilded stucco medallions catching sunlight like they know they're fabulous. Then there鈥檚 a more modest building at No. 3 K枚stlergasse鈥攔umored to be Wagner鈥檚 own residence. Understated, of course, because nothing says 鈥渁rchitect鈥檚 ego鈥� like hiding in plain sight.
And when you鈥檙e ready to change levels鈥攍iterally鈥攈ead down into Kettenbr眉ckengasse subway station, also a Wagner design. It鈥檚 where style meets utility with such grace, you might forget you鈥檙e just waiting for a train.
Now, onward鈥擵ienna doesn鈥檛 admire itself...
Pro tip:
Go on a bright day, and bring binoculars. Seriously. The details tucked under balconies and along the eaves are worth the squint. Wagner wasn鈥檛 just designing buildings鈥攈e was composing symphonies in ceramic and stucco.
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Majolika-Haus (Majolica House) on Map
Sight Name: Majolika-Haus (Majolica House)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour II
If there are cities that flirt, Vienna is definitely the one. Here, even the buildings know how to do it.
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn鈥檛 do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn鈥檛 do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I
Vienna鈥檚 flirtation with Art Nouveau鈥攌nown locally as Jugendstil鈥攗nfolded in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The so-called Vienna Secession movement, which emerged in 1897, was led by a group of rebellious artists and architects like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser, who turned their backs on historicism in favor of bold, modern aesthetics. As the new language for buildings,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" 鈥� Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour
"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" 鈥� Gustav Klimt.
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Old Town Chocolate Stores
Vienna is famous for its love for sweet indulgence. And when it comes to chocolate, it stands tall among other locally-made mouth-watering confections.
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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