House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus)
At the end of the XIX century by request of the Vienna union of painters needing rooms for expositions, the exhibition complex – the House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus) has been constructed. This powerful two-storeyed Renaissance building and now costs on Karlova Square, near Ringshtrasse.
The house of the Artist was under construction in 1865-68. From the moment of opening it served as the exhibition centre for works of painting and a statue, architecture, applied art. The building was created according to Augustus Weber’s project in style of the Italian country house of an era of the Renaissance. It was one of the first structures on Ringshtrasse. The designer used for construction and furnish a quantity of types of a stone. Anton Vasserburger’s Vienna company was engaged in processing of a stone.
House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus), Christian Leitner photo
The ground floor of a structure has been revetted with a rustovy laying. On the main facade have built three big arch portals. Three semicircular Renaissance windows over entrance arches have been broken by ancient columns. The building was fitted by an openwork frieze, the stone balustrade finished a facade.
House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus), Ayalareza Asadollah photo
In 1882 the House of the Artist have expanded: two lateral wings have been attached. The 1st international art exhibition then has come true.
In process of Ringshtrasse’s development the low-floor building of the House of the Artist began to drop out of the general construction ensemble. Offers were brought: to change it a new high-rise structure; to eliminate Kunstlerhaus and to build office complex. But the public of Vienna could resist to these plans and keep a historical building.
House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus)
At present in the House of the artist the invariable exposition operates, exhibitions, seminars, festivals are held. Its exhibition facilities occupy the space about 2000 m?. In the left wing of a structure in 1949 the cinema hall has opened, and in right since 1974 the theatre works. Since 1960 of Kunstlerhaus became a venue of a kazhdogodny international film festival of Viennale.
Cinema hall in Kunstlerhaus
House of the Artist (Kunstlerhaus)