Kunsthaus Graz
Graz, Styria, Austria
Step into the heart of Graz's contemporary art scene through a building that seems to have landed from another world. The Kunsthaus Graz, designed by British…
What it's like here
Step into the heart of Graz's contemporary art scene through a building that seems to have landed from another world. The Kunsthaus Graz, designed by British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, is an architectural provocation—a biomorphic form clad in iridescent blue acrylic panels that earned it the affectionate nickname "Friendly Alien." Built in 2003 as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations, it floats between the gabled roofs and red tiles of Graz's historic centre, a striking contrast that makes it impossible to miss.
Inside, the building is as thoughtfully unconventional as its exterior. A travelator—a slanted moving belt—draws you into the heart of the structure, revealing interior spaces designed to challenge traditional museum layouts. The transparent lower level houses a café and media lounge, while upper floors provide flexible gallery spaces for rotating exhibitions. A glazed viewing platform on the eastern façade opens onto panoramic views across the city, anchoring the experience of art within its urban setting.
The museum's exhibition program focuses entirely on contemporary art from the 1960s onwards, uniting architecture, design, new media, internet art, film, and photography under one innovative roof. Rather than maintaining a permanent collection, the Kunsthaus stages international exhibitions of multidisciplinary modern and contemporary work, keeping the experience fresh and always evolving. This curatorial approach means each visit offers something different—a space devoted to discovering emerging ideas and experimental artistic practices.
A singular technical marvel sets this building apart: the BIX façade, a "communicative display skin" on the eastern side consisting of 930 individually adjustable fluorescent lamps. At night, this acrylic glass skin transforms into a dynamic canvas, broadcasting films, animations, and written messages at 20 frames per second. The concept was so innovative that it entered the permanent Architecture and Design Collection of MoMA in New York in 2011. Whether you visit during the day to experience the building's form, or return after dark to see the BIX façade in motion, you're witnessing a genuine fusion of architecture and new media.
Highlights
- The "Friendly Alien" architecture—a biomorphic building designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier that contrasts dramatically with Graz's historic centre
- The BIX façade: 930 individually controlled fluorescent lamps that transform the eastern side into a glowing display screen at night
- A travelator (moving belt) that draws visitors into the heart of the building in an unconventional gallery experience
- Changing exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, design, and new media from the 1960s to the present
- A glazed viewing platform offering panoramic views across Graz
Good to know
The museum is wheelchair accessible with step-free access and offers guided tours. Photography is permitted throughout. Facilities include parking, toilets, a café, and lockers. Plan for 1–2 hours to explore. The building itself is part of Graz's UNESCO World Heritage site designation.
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Questions people ask
What makes the Kunsthaus Graz architecture unusual?
The building is designed as blob architecture with a distinctive biomorphic form clad in 1,066 iridescent blue acrylic glass panels that double as photovoltaic panels. Architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier deliberately created a provocative, less institutional design that contrasts sharply with the surrounding historic buildings, earning it the nickname "Friendly Alien."
What is the BIX façade?
The BIX (big pixels) façade is the acrylic glass skin on the eastern side of the building, consisting of 930 fluorescent lamps whose brightness can be adjusted individually. Operating at 20 frames per second, it functions as a communicative display screen, projecting films, animations, and messages at night. The concept was added to MoMA's permanent Architecture and Design Collection in 2011.
Does the museum have a permanent collection?
No. The Kunsthaus Graz does not collect art, maintain permanent exhibitions, or hold its own depot. Its exclusive purpose is to present and procure contemporary art productions, which means exhibitions rotate and change.
What kind of art does the museum focus on?
The exhibition program specializes in contemporary art from the 1960s onwards, uniting architecture, design, new media, internet art, film, and photography in international exhibitions of multidisciplinary modern and contemporary work.
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Last verified: August 20, 2026