In Magdeburg, the last Hundertwasser house has been opened

    MAGDEBURG - Today, the last building designed by the eccentric Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser was opened for operation in Magdeburg, Germany. Hundertwasser, known for his colorful diversity, playfully curvy lines, and irregular shapes, aimed to create an "oasis of humanity" amidst what he considered overly austere architecture. Given the character of Magdeburg as a medieval fortress, he named the building the Green Citadel.
    Thousands of curious visitors toured the interior of the brightly painted building, coated in sharp pink, featuring typical onion domes and a green-roof after a local church representative sprinkled holy water over it from one of the roof terraces. The complex houses a hotel, a kindergarten, rental apartments, and offices. Shops, restaurants, and cafes are spread around two inner courtyards.
    "This house represents the embodiment of emotions, in contrast to the rationality of modern architecture," said Jan-Hendrik Olbertz, the Minister of Culture of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, during the ceremonial event. Magdeburg's mayor Lutz Trümper spoke of "a revolutionary house amidst the venerable historic buildings."
    Due to the immediate proximity of the Gothic cathedral and Romanesque monastery, the colorful project initially elicited controversial reactions from the public, who referred to the building as a "colorful hut." Gradually, however, the structure with its wavy contours gained popularity among the people of Magdeburg and tourists.
    The construction of the €27 million complex was allegedly financed entirely through private capital. Of the 55 apartments, only 15 have been rented so far, as the rent is extraordinarily high, and the planned exhibition spaces are uncertain. Even after the ceremonial opening, the project is likely to struggle for meaningful fulfillment, DPA recently reported. Just last week, the building made headlines when the manager of the architect's intellectual legacy, Joram Harel, expressed demands for drastic changes to some aesthetic parts of the building. Some sections had to be repainted, overgrown bushes planted on the roof were removed, and part of the decoration from tiles was reworked.
    Friedensreich Hundertwasser was born in 1929 in Austria as Friedrich Stowasser. He realized most of his buildings in Vienna, many of which became symbols of modern construction in the Austrian capital and tourist attractions. Hundertwasser also built in other parts of Austria and several times in Germany. He died on February 19, 2000, at the age of 71 onboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 while returning home from New Zealand. The Green Citadel of Magdeburg was his last project; theoretically, other similar buildings may arise "in Hundertwasser's style," but they will not carry his authorship.