At Stubenring 5 in Vienna, the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) brings decorative arts, design and contemporary art together in a historic building. Its rooms trace styles from the Renaissance and Baroque to Art Deco and the Wiener Werkstätte, with objects including furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass and metalwork. The building’s detailed architecture is part of the visit, and basement exhibitions add another layer to explore. Check the current programme for temporary displays, which have ranged from Christmas tree decorations to fashion retrospectives.
A museum for art in everyday life
The Museum of Applied Arts was conceived in 1863 by Rudolf von Eitelberger, the University of Vienna’s first professor of art history. Its original purpose was to improve Austrian craft and industrial design, and it was first called the Imperial Royal Museum of Art and Industry. The idea was to create an institution on the model of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
That focus on useful objects still shapes the collection. Furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass and metalwork sit alongside architecture, design and contemporary art. Rather than treating craft as separate from fine art, the museum brings different forms of making into view across its galleries.
Rooms spanning centuries of design
The collection covers styles including Renaissance, Baroque, Orientalism, Historicism, Empire and Art Deco. The Wiener Werkstätte, known for its distinctive metalwork, is another point of focus. In the 20th-century design and architecture room, Frank Gehry’s cardboard chair is among the objects to look for. Furniture associated with Viennese design includes Thonet chairs and an armchair by Otto Wagner.
Each room has its own character, and contemporary artists have been invited to shape some displays. This approach gives the galleries distinct settings for their objects instead of presenting the collection as one continuous hall. The museum’s own architecture is also part of the experience: its detailed historic building was conceived with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as a model.
Permanent displays and changing exhibitions
The permanent collection includes “Vienna 1900,” which brings together 500 pieces connected with the period’s art and design. Other displays range across applied arts and contemporary work, so the visit can move from historic craft to newer ideas about design and everyday life.
Temporary exhibitions have covered subjects as varied as Christmas tree decorations, books and fashion. A past exhibition on fashion examined consumer behaviour, manufacturing and sustainability. These changing displays mean the programme is different from one visit to the next, so check the museum’s current exhibition information if you have a particular interest.
The MAK is on Stubenring, on Vienna’s Ringstrasse. Its location also places it among the buildings purpose-built along the ring road around the historic centre. Allow time to explore more than the main collection: the basement exhibitions and the changing programme add further subjects and display styles to the visit.
Häufige Fragen
Where is the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna?
The museum is at Stubenring 5, in Vienna’s Innere Stadt district.
What can you see at the MAK?
The collection spans decorative arts, furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, architecture, design and contemporary art. “Vienna 1900” is one of its permanent displays.
Is the Museum of Applied Arts wheelchair accessible?
The museum has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, restrooms and parking.
How long should you spend at the MAK?
Allow around 2 to 3 hours to explore the galleries and exhibitions.
