Medallion House, Vienna
The shimmering show-off known as the Medallion House is a golden gem in Vienna鈥檚 Secessionist crown. Designed by none other than Otto Wagner and completed in 1899, this apartment block stands shoulder to shoulder with its equally flamboyant sibling, the Majolica House, in a dazzling display of architectural one-upmanship.
Why 鈥淢edallion House鈥�? Because of the bling, of course. The name comes from the gilded stucco medallions designed by Wagner鈥檚 prot茅g茅 and frequent partner-in-aesthetic-crime, Koloman Moser. Unlike Majolica鈥檚 garden-party palette of pinks, blues, and greens, the Medallion House prefers to go full glam鈥攇old rules the fa莽ade, and not just the front. Since the building is on a corner, Moser didn鈥檛 stop there鈥攈e decked out the entire length like it was going to a fashion gala.
The medallions feature serene, statuesque women flanked by palm leaves and floral swirls, a cocktail of classical inspiration and Art Nouveau flair. And if that wasn鈥檛 theatrical enough, look up. Higher... There, atop the roof, you鈥檒l find "The Criers" (or "The Crying Women" if you like), sculpted by Othmar Schimkowitz, who was no stranger to dramatic rooftops鈥攈e also did the angels for Otto Wagner鈥檚 Postal Savings Bank. These windswept figures seem to wail into the skyline, giving the whole building a kind of high-stakes opera vibe.
Wagner had big dreams for this stretch of the street鈥攗rban housing with style, edge, and plenty of Instagram appeal, a century before filters were a thing. In 1914, the Medallion House became the property of the Kohn family. But during World War II, the building was seized after the family was forced into exile. Justice prevailed in 1947, when the Kohns successfully reclaimed their home.
Today, the Medallion House doesn鈥檛 just star on postcards鈥攊t graces an actual 鈧�100 gold coin. And in true Viennese fashion, it currently houses... a bank. Because nothing says 鈥渁ustere financial institution鈥� quite like a fa莽ade dripping in gold and silent drama queens on the roof.
So, next time you're wandering the Naschmarkt side of town, look up. The Medallion House doesn鈥檛 just whisper history鈥攊t practically sings it from the rooftops.
Why 鈥淢edallion House鈥�? Because of the bling, of course. The name comes from the gilded stucco medallions designed by Wagner鈥檚 prot茅g茅 and frequent partner-in-aesthetic-crime, Koloman Moser. Unlike Majolica鈥檚 garden-party palette of pinks, blues, and greens, the Medallion House prefers to go full glam鈥攇old rules the fa莽ade, and not just the front. Since the building is on a corner, Moser didn鈥檛 stop there鈥攈e decked out the entire length like it was going to a fashion gala.
The medallions feature serene, statuesque women flanked by palm leaves and floral swirls, a cocktail of classical inspiration and Art Nouveau flair. And if that wasn鈥檛 theatrical enough, look up. Higher... There, atop the roof, you鈥檒l find "The Criers" (or "The Crying Women" if you like), sculpted by Othmar Schimkowitz, who was no stranger to dramatic rooftops鈥攈e also did the angels for Otto Wagner鈥檚 Postal Savings Bank. These windswept figures seem to wail into the skyline, giving the whole building a kind of high-stakes opera vibe.
Wagner had big dreams for this stretch of the street鈥攗rban housing with style, edge, and plenty of Instagram appeal, a century before filters were a thing. In 1914, the Medallion House became the property of the Kohn family. But during World War II, the building was seized after the family was forced into exile. Justice prevailed in 1947, when the Kohns successfully reclaimed their home.
Today, the Medallion House doesn鈥檛 just star on postcards鈥攊t graces an actual 鈧�100 gold coin. And in true Viennese fashion, it currently houses... a bank. Because nothing says 鈥渁ustere financial institution鈥� quite like a fa莽ade dripping in gold and silent drama queens on the roof.
So, next time you're wandering the Naschmarkt side of town, look up. The Medallion House doesn鈥檛 just whisper history鈥攊t practically sings it from the rooftops.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Medallion House on Map
Sight Name: Medallion 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
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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 Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna鈥檚 Old Town鈥攖he historic core of Austria鈥檚 capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site鈥攊s where cobblestones gossip, rooftops sparkle, and emperors still seem to whisper from the walls. Indeed, this is the kind of place where every alley seems to have a PhD in European history.
Once wrapped in medieval walls鈥攂efore they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Once wrapped in medieval walls鈥攂efore they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
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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
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
Vienna Introduction Walking Tour
A city of green parks, opulent architecture, elegant shopping, crowded theaters, and boulevards for leisurely sauntering 鈥� Vienna, the capital of Austria, embodies a blend of regal tradition and contemporary vibrancy. The origin of the city's name is rooted in Roman times, stemming from the Celtic word Vedunia, meaning 鈥渇orest stream鈥�, which later evolved into Vindobona, a Roman... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 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
Famous Homes of Vienna
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The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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