Kunsthaus Graz

The Kunsthaus Graz is a contemporary art museum in Graz, Austria. Built in 2003 for the European Capital of Culture, it stands out for its bold architecture. Designed by Colin Fournier and Sir Peter Cook, the building features blob architecture with an iridescent blue acrylic skin. Its nickname, the ‘Friendly Alien’, comes from its unusual shape and contrast with the surrounding cityscape. The museum incorporates part of the Iron House, an iron-framed building from 1848. Inside, exhibition spaces are arranged to avoid a traditional institutional feel. The museum specialises in multidisciplinary contemporary art from the 1960s to today. It does not collect or keep permanent displays, focusing instead on temporary exhibitions. Founding director Peter Pakesch shaped its programme from 2003 until his departure. Exhibitions include architecture, design, new media, film, photography and internet art. The building’s design uses new materials and techniques, including photovoltaic panels in its façade. The eastern side of the museum features the BIX media façade, made of 930 fluorescent lamps. These can display films and animations at 20 frames per second, acting as a large screen. The BIX concept was added to the MoMA’s Architecture and Design Collection in 2011. The museum has also inspired a documentary, *Astronaut’s Ark*, marking its tenth anniversary. A commemorative stamp was issued by the Austrian Postal Service in 2011.