The building
At the time of its development around the millennium, the architects and planners of the Kunsthaus were entering new territory in building technology. Clearly, this is a building that reflects the turn of an era: analogue and digital, visionary and down-to-earth. The design and the competition model were created "by hand", the large blue form was then generated by using computer software simulating the model and the data were transmitted to the executive companies, who produced the individual components.
The blue shimmering bubble of the Kunsthaus is spectacular. It rises above the glassy ground floor. With a span of up to 60 metres, the biomorphic double-walled skin forms a solid, reinforced concrete structure over two floors.
The glass ground floor is accessible from Lendkai as well as from Südtirolerplatz. In addition to the Kunsthaus Graz Shop and Kunsthauscafé, it also offers a large event room (Space04) and a spacious foyer for visitors, featuring art and design.
On a 30-metre-long mechanical treadmill, known as the "Travelator" or "Pin", visitors pierce the skin of the building, cross the room for children and young people (Space03) and finally reach the first exhibition level, Space02. Removable neon tubes under the flat ceiling, arranged along an orthogonal grid system, generate artificial light. Another treadmill leads to the second exhibition level, Space01, which reaches eight metres at its highest point. The exhibition areas receive adjustable natural light through the so-called nozzles - trunk-like openings facing outwards. One of these focuses on the clock tower, creating a link between the city's two main attractions. Artificial light is provided by an expressive, spiral neon light and switchable spots.
At the end of the tour, visitors leave the dark interior and enter the needle, an all-glass viewing platform that offers an unforgettable view of Graz.
On the upper floors, bridges connect the new building with the "Iron House", whose landmark cast-iron construction - the oldest in Central Europe - was carefully renovated in the course of the construction of the Kunsthaus Graz.
Permanent Installations
Max Neuhaus
Time Piece Graz, 2003
Kunsthaus GrazInspired by these different contexts, Max Neuhaus’ Time Piece Graz creates an external space around Kunsthaus Graz defined by sound. It appears periodically as an audible signal. more...
Esther Stocker
Wandarbeit Nr. 19, 2008
Kunsthaus GrazPainter Esther Stocker takes advantage of the conversion and development of the building attached to Kunsthaus on 4 Mariahilferstrasse to redesign the wall mural she created for the existing building and place the black and white pattern in a new context. more...
Michael Schuster
Verkehrsspiegel, 2003/2016
Kunsthaus GrazHe uses photography to create illusion, confounding the visitors’ subconscious understanding of the surroundings by applying a photographic representation of the real space onto a traditional traffic mirror. more...
Kunsthaus Graz
Lendkai 1
8020 Graz, Österreich
T +43-316/8017-9200
info@kunsthausgraz.at
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun, public holidays 10am - 6pm
Guided Tours
Please visit our calendar.
Guided tours on advance notice
Kunsthauscafé
Mon-Thurs 9am-12pm
Fri, Sat 9am-2am
Sun 9am - 8pm
Snackkarte
info@kunsthauscafe.co.at
T: +43-316/714 957
Closed: