Friedensreich Hundertwasser was one of the most exciting and imaginative architects our world has seen.He was a master of unconventional design. Architecture abundant with the curves of Nature eschewing man made straight lines or surfaces. His world consists of asymmetrical living and working spaces, weird and wonderful walkways, rounded corners with plants and trees growing from roofs and balconies.
The man, one of my favourite people was a painter, a sculptor, a writer, an architect and of course a philosopher.
Frederick was born in Austria in 1929 and first came to New Zealand in the 1970's. He fell in love with the country and decided to make his home here. He became a New Zealand Citizen and built a home in the Waikare Inlet on the Waikino Peninsula in the Bay of Islands.
When he died in 2000, he was buried there,
in his preferred part of the world.
He was commissioned to build the now world famous toilets at Kawakawa, the only Hundertwasser delight in the southern hemisphere.
He had been inspired by a few, including the painter Gustav Klimt and his work is often compared with that of the genius Antoni Gaudi.
There's more to know about this wonderful man here and here.
We need more free thinkers like Frederick Hundertwasser...
