The Leftovers Manifesto – About the Viability of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's Ideas

Abstract

Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s architecture sparks controversy and stirs emotions. For tourists and residents, it is an attraction that elicits enthusiasm, while specialists often regard it as a curiosity. His aesthetic elements – kitsch, camp, bricolage, DIY, and ecology – appeal to contemporary users and motivate their creativity. An extraordinary example is a community of homeless people in Jaworzno (Poland), who revitalized an old, over-century-old building gifted by the city authorities and are renovating another in Hundertwasser's style. Their fascination with Hundertwasser stems not just from admiration for his buildings but from his ideas in numerous manifestos. A deeper reading of his texts and personal experience of his art allowed amateurs to identify with his pro-environmental and pro-social views, actualizing them in place-making activities. This community’s efforts reflect the vitality of Hundertwasser’s aesthetics and architectural theory, encouraging creativity and action as part of the broader DIY culture.