MAK - MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS

Originally built between 1868 and 1871 under the direction of Heinrich von Ferstel in a historical style with many Moorish frescoes, this noble institution had been established a few years earlier as the Museum of Arts and Industries of the Dual Monarchy in 1864. The MAK also housed the School of Industrial Arts Studies in its early years, which was later relocated to an adjacent building. By 1909, a new wing had to be built to accommodate the growing collection. Ludwig Baumann completed the extension project on Weiskirchner Street. Today, this second wing of the MAK is dedicated to temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. In addition, it has become a trendy venue for fashion shows, concerts, media events, and clubbing parties with top DJs.

The MAK and its buildings are the result of an amazing succession of architectural projects. The list of builders who contributed to its development is impressive to say the least. in 1989, the most prominent architects were entrusted with the planned redesigns. Sepp Müller designed the glass cage connecting the two historic buildings and the interiors of the two museum stores. Walter Pichler designed the entrance door to the garden, Hermann Czech designed the museum's café-restaurant, and a group of artists sketched the entrance to the Ring. In the same spirit, contemporary artists have taken part in the organization of each of the exhibition rooms. The basements have been redesigned and transformed into exhibition rooms. In one of the large rooms, there is an impressive collection of Buddhas, Shivas and other Hindu deities from different periods and regions; without doubt one of the most important in Europe. Another unique collection is that of armchairs and chairs; Thonet, the famous designer and manufacturer of furniture at the end of the 19th century, inventor of the chair of the same name, is very largely represented, alongside Hoffmann, Loos and some others. The MAK certainly has the most extensive collection in the world, representing more than a century of "sitting culture".
The historical collections are concentrated in the oldest building on the Ring: East Asian art, furniture and textiles, metal, glass and ceramics in the basement, objects from the Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Biedermeier, Historicism and Empire periods on the first floor. The two upper floors house more recent works, notably from the turn of the century and Art Nouveau or Art Deco objects (Mackintosh, Macdonald, Koloman Moser, Hoffmann, Otto Wagner...), architectural models and a few period paintings, including Gustav Klimt's magnificent fresco of the Tree of Life (Der Lebensbaum) and a superb painting by Margaret Macdonald, dating from 1906 and recovered from the museum's repositories during its renovation. It is unique in that it was the only Scottish work of the period to be commissioned in continental Europe. These Art Nouveau/Art Deco collections are among the most interesting in the museum. At the turn of the century, the MAK and its associated school played a leading role in the emergence of new trends and craft techniques. The MAK's exhibitions can also be forward-looking, with extensive use of modern technology. For those who have a soft spot for Viennese and European turn-of-the-century art, the MAK is a must. Its rich collections make it one of our favorites in Vienna. Unfortunately not very well attended and struggling with a tight operating budget, the MAK is a haven of peace compared to the other major Viennese museums.
MAK Center for Arts and Architecture. An annex in Los Angeles, founded to promote international exchange between contemporary art and architecture. The organization awards grants for doctoral research projects in this field.