Hundertwasser's Museum, Vienna

This is the façade of the Kunst Haus Wien, a museum designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) in the late 20th century, to house his art. As an architect, painter, environmentalist, and much more, Hundertwasser was one of a kind--born in Vienna, and claimed as a hero by Austria, but also a citizen of the world. He died at sea, on the way back to New Zealand where he had lived off and on, and was buried there on his own land.

The museum is a fascinating structure (view this large), including its winding glass-bordered stairway, and a lovely cafe where we had lunch. There we had a brief conversation with Andreas Bitesnich, an Austrian photographer in whose superb exhibition at the museum we had just spent a good two hours . I must confess I had never heard of him, but both Marylee and I were extremely impressed by his work.