The Iron House

Image Credits

The “Iron House”, built in 1848 by Josef Benedict Withalm, was one of the first cast-iron buildings on the European mainland. Over the years, numerous structural alterations caused it to lose its original character. With the construction of the Kunsthaus, the building’s original design was revived and it was physically connected to the new museum.

Discover the Iron House

Audio

The Iron House to Listen To

Video

The Iron House to Look At

Key Facts – The Iron House

Cast Iron

Cast Iron and Glass: Architect, builder and first operator of the “Iron House,” Josef Benedict Withalm, inspired by a journey to England, chose to use cast iron and large window openings. In doing so, he created an entirely new type of architecture for its time.

Use

Originally, the ground floor housed a department store, the elegant Café Meran occupied the upper floor, and the basement featured a bar described as an “Elysium in the Viennese style” – presumably one of the first red-light bars in Graz. Today, the Iron House is home to the Kunsthaus Café, various offices, and Camera Austria.

Changes

Over time, numerous structural modifications significantly altered the character of the Iron House, which is now a listed building. Originally built as a delicate glass-and-iron construction, the structure gradually lost its unique appearance and became an ordinary building. With the construction of the Kunsthaus, the building’s original character was revived.

The Muse Polyhymnia

She came back to light during the restoration of the Iron House: in a concealed wall niche, a delicate cast-iron figure was discovered – a depiction of Polyhymnia, muse of sacred poetry, hymns, and silence.

The figure dates back to around 1848, when the Iron House was built as one of the first cast-iron buildings on the European mainland. Polyhymnia embodies the union of technology and spirit – a symbol of the idea that progress without cultural depth remains hollow.

Today, a replica of the figure is visible on the façade for all to see. The original is preserved in the GrazMuseum – a silent witness of times past that speaks anew to the present.