Secession Building | Vienna

Information

Landmark: Secession Building
City: Vienna
Country: Austria
Continent: Europe

Secession Building, Vienna, Austria, Europe

The Secession Building (Wiener Secessionsgebäude) is an exhibition hall located at Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Wien, serving as a physical manifesto for the Vienna Secession movement.

Visual Characteristics

The structure is a definitive example of Viennese Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). It is a white, cubic building topped by a prominent dome of 3,000 gilded laurel leaves, often referred to locally as the "Golden Cabbage." The entrance is flanked by statues of owls (symbols of Athena) and features the movement's motto in gold lettering: "Der Zeit ihre Kunst. Der Kunst ihre Freiheit" (To every age its art. To art its freedom).

Location & Access Logistics

Address: Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Wien.

Public Transport: U-Bahn hub Karlsplatz (lines U1, U4). It is situated near the Naschmarkt and Karlskirche.

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. Closed on Mondays.

Access: Paid admission is required for exhibitions and the Beethoven Frieze. The building is fully wheelchair accessible.

Historical Origin

Constructed in 1897–1898 by architect Joseph Maria Olbrich. It was built as a protest against the conservative Künstlerhaus and the traditional academic art of the time. The founding group included Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, and Josef Hoffmann. The land was provided by the city, but the construction was funded entirely by the artists.

Key Highlights & Exhibits

The Beethoven Frieze: A 34-meter-long masterpiece by Gustav Klimt located in the basement. It was created for the 14th Secession exhibition in 1902 as a tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven.

Contemporary Exhibitions: The upper floors host rotating exhibitions of international contemporary art, maintaining the building's original purpose as a non-commercial laboratory for new artistic ideas.

The Gorgons: Three relief sculptures above the entrance representing Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility includes a specialized bookstore for art and theory. 5G connectivity is stable. Professional security and climate control are maintained to preserve the Klimt frieze.