Darmstadt: Waldspirale – Your Walking Tour around a Work of Art Darmstadt: Waldspirale – Your walking tour around a work of art

Walking tour around the Waldspirale, a work of art by Friedensreich Hundertwasser completed in 2000.
“It is a home for nature and for human dreams, an example of how to increase nature in the city,” said the Viennese artist, ecologist, and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) about the Forest Spiral. This imaginative residential complex, comprising 105 individual apartments, was developed by the Darmstadt Building Society. With its Oriental-style golden onion domes, colorful ceramic columns, and “windows dancing out of line,” the Waldspirale has been a landmark in Darmstadt’s Bürgerparkviertel district since September 2000.

Trees grow on the roof, which rises like a forest path, and also grow out of windows and on balconies, while a bubbling stream crosses the uneven paths. In Darmstadt, the opponent of the “godless” straight line and of rigid, unhealthy systems and grids has designed a spiral-shaped building that appears to grow out of the earth.

Hundertwasser aimed to create humane, natural houses – houses that enclose their inhabitants like a “third skin.” Hundertwasser did not live to see the completion of the Forest Spiral – his last of a total of 25 buildings; he passed away six months earlier.

This walking tour around the Waldspirale, a work of art by Friedensreich Hundertwasser completed in 2000, provides insight into Hundertwasser’s concept of organic, humane living.

By using recycled concrete for the first time, this building demonstrates that ecological construction is not incompatible with financially viable projects.

Meeting point: Passageway in the inner courtyard
The duration is 60 minutes.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.