Happy Friday, everyone! And it’s not just the end of the week – today we’re also on the very last leg of our recent Germany trip. But I think I’ve saved the best for last, because it turns out that Germany is just full of the kind of cute monsters that the Beasties and I love so much! We’ll meet them later in the post.
First, let’s check out that magical house I mentioned!
How’s THAT for a cool place to live?
This very unusual building is called the Waldspirale (“Forest Spiral”), and it’s in Darmstadt, a city just south of Frankfurt. It was designed by an Austrian-born New Zealand artist and architect called Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the best part is that it’s not just for show. Yes, people actually do live here!
Apart from the glowing gold domes on the roof, I also loved the gentle layers of colour, smooth curved surfaces and the proliferation of plants everywhere.
And these things are recurring themes in Hundertwasser’s designs – he was very much against straight lines and standardisation. This is especially obvious when you see the staircase in the central courtyard!
So, if I ever feel the need to relocate Beastie Towers to Germany, I reeeeeeallllly hope they have a spot for us in here! Oh, and fun fact – while you’ll find most of Hundertwasser’s buildings in Germany and Austria, there are a few others scattered in choice locations across the world. They include a winery in the Napa Valley in the US, an incineration plant in Osaka, Japan, and… A public toilet block in Kawakawa, a small town in the northernmost region of New Zealand!
Now, who wants to meet some monsters? Because trust me, they were everywhere! We found monster street art…
… Mascots in shops…
… And friends on every street corner!
Hey, is this making you thirsty? Have some monster juice!
And now I think it’s high time we kicked back with a nice cup of monster tea…
… And remember all the friends, old and new, we met on our trip!
Cheers for joining us on our travels – and also a massive THANK YOU to all the Beastiebuddies who made our German trip so much fun!
We’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster shenanigans… In the meantime, are your paws taking you anywhere interesting this weekend? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!
Here is another building from Hundertwasser:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uelzen_station
Ooooh, weird coincidence! The friend who showed me the Waldspirale passed through here on her recent holidays, and sent me pictures! 😱 Have you been there too? Thanks for stopping in, Marco!
No, I didn’t. My parents and my sister saw this. Me, I’m more the Bauhaus kind of architecture fan.
But I also dug up a list of all of his works: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_buildings_by_Friedensreich_Hundertwasser
One step ahead of you! This is where I learned about the curious overseas projects he’d taken on. 😉
Love reading about your Beastie adventures. The Waldspirale is particularly interesting. I’m way into unique architecture like that. 🙂
Thanks, Rachel… And I agree, our cities need more interesting and thoughtfully-designed buildings like this one! Cheers for joining us 😀
I don’t know which I find harder to believe…that there’s a fancifully designed toilet block in New Zealand, or that there is a store out in the world that carries Monster Tea!! That apartment building is amazing and if you ever get Beastie Towers settled in there, be sure to reserve me a flat as well. Now I’m wondering if the interiors are rounded too and what kind of decorating know-how that might require.
Yes, apparently that toilet block is a minor tourist attraction! Among other things, Hundertwasser was a keen environmentalist, and promoted the use of composting toilets and artificial wetlands as water-purification systems. If you have a spare second this morning, take a look at his Wikipedia page (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedensreich_Hundertwasser) – he was an interesting fellow! I think that the interiors of the buildings are similarly rounded though, so I hope you’re a dab hand with a paintbrush…
Also, I REEEEALLY wish I’d stocked up on Monster Tea before I came home! 😆 Cheers for stopping in, Tammie!
“What did you do on your vacation?” “Oh, went to visit a toilet.” Now I know if someone ever tells me this, I’ll completely understand. Now, off to read about this fellow while I sip my non-monster tea (tea will never be the same for me now 😕).
Sorry! This must be why monster products are so few and far between where we are… Non-monster brands simply can’t compete! 😂 As for that toilet… It’s probably too much of a trek to go to New Zealand just for that. I think it’d be wiser to check out the Hundertwasser winery in the Napa Valley instead!
Well, if you insist. But after all that wine tasting, I might need a designer loo.
I’d really advise looking for one a bit closer… 😜
I love all the monster products. I had no idea Hundertwasser had designed buildings. You’ve taught me something.
And I’d never seen any of his artwork… It’s a school day for both of us! 😀 I’d love to see inside one of the buildings someday. Also, this is only a fraction of the monster goodies I found – weird critters are an especially popular theme for graffiti! Thanks for stopping in, Laura!
Monster Street Art! If you do decide relocate Beastie Towers to Germany that castle looks like a fabulous place for your headquarters 🙂
Doesn’t it? Now I don’t want to be a diva, but I think we’d have to get one of those turrets topped with the golden onion dome… Just to fit with the name “Beastie Towers”, you know. Thanks for calling in, Tierney! 😀
Thanks so much for sharing your Germany adventures with us! It looks like an amazing trip. And what cool architecture!
Thanks, Catherine! We had a great time… And writing about it helps draw out that holiday feeling a little longer 😀 Cheers for joining us!
Woooooooooow I love that magical building!!! Also love seeing all the monsters you encountered on your way. It looks like it was an excellent and well-deserved trip, and I’m so happy you were able to make it happen!
Why thank you! And you’re so right… I DO deserve more holidays! 😁Cheers for joining us on our monster-filled jaunt!
Great snapshots, Helen! I’ve enjoyed some of Hundertwasser’s paintings, but never knew he had designed a full on residential complex. Isn’t it interesting to see what happens when straight lines and right angles are taken out of the blueprints? (everything has a sculpture-y ‘handmade’ feel to it, in my eye). And cool street art snapshots – glad to see that the Beasties find monstery kin wherever they go. We could all use a cup of monster alarm tea! 🙂
Yes, isn’t it cool? The building stood out from pretty much everything else I saw on my trip – it was a real break from the same-y postwar rebuilding I saw in most places. I’d love if there was a Hundertwasserhaus in Dublin! And you’re right – those curves make the building look more “handmade”, like more thought had gone into its design and construction. Germany is also a real haven for the street-art appreciator and tea aficionado… There’s certainly plenty of both to choose from! Cheers for your comment, Shirley!
Yes, those curvy stair-steps are so interesting, like his use of colour and plants. I’ll have to read more about his other projects, thanks for mentioning those! I visited a similar ‘no-right angles’ building in a small town in Switzerland, and I have to say, it was neat, and a little uncanny!
Oooh, maybe it was one of his too? I think I saw at least one Swiss Hundertwasser building on the list… 🤔
What a magical place! Is it the same on the inside too? I almost feel like I’ve been to Germany now after seeing so many wonderful parts of it with Explorer Beastie
I think the curviness continues on the inside as well… Although unfortunately no-one asked us in for tea this time! Oh well, we’ll have to go back 😉 Thanks for joining us on our trip, Hannah!