You’re walking down the Stubenring in Vienna, and you see this massive, imposing Renaissance-style brick building. It looks like a fortress. Honestly, most people just walk right past it on their way to St. Stephen’s Cathedral or the Belvedere. Big mistake. This is the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts Vienna, and it’s arguably the most "Vienna" thing in the whole city. It isn't just a place where they keep old chairs. It’s the DNA of how we live, sit, and look at objects today.
The MAK was actually the first museum on the Ringstraße when it opened its doors back in 1871. Think about that. Before the grand opera houses and the fancy museums of fine arts were finished, Vienna decided that applied arts—the stuff we actually use—mattered most. It was inspired by the South Kensington Museum in London (now the V&A). The goal? To show off great design so that local craftsmen could get better at their jobs. It was basically a massive mood board for the 19th century.
The Weird Intersection of Tradition and Total Weirdness
If you expect a dusty, chronological march through history, the Museum of Applied Arts Vienna will probably confuse you at first. It’s quirky. In the late 80s and early 90s, the museum did something radical. Instead of letting curators just place objects in glass boxes, they invited contemporary artists like Donald Judd, Barbara Bloom, and Jenny Holzer to design the actual rooms.
It changed everything.
In the Empire and Biedermeier room, for example, the chairs aren't just lined up. They are often displayed in ways that make you think about the politics of the era. You’ll see the famous Thonet bentwood chairs—the ones you see in every European cafe—hanging or stacked in ways that highlight their revolutionary mass-production. Michael Thonet basically invented the "IKEA" model over a century before IKEA existed. He figured out how to steam wood, bend it, and ship it in pieces. This museum is where that story lives.
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The Wiener Werkstätte Obsession
You can't talk about the MAK without talking about the Wiener Werkstätte. This was the "Vienna Workshop" founded by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser. Their motto? "Better to work ten days on one product than to produce ten products in one day." It was a middle finger to the cheap, soul-less industrial revolution.
The MAK holds the world’s most comprehensive archive of their work. We’re talking about hand-hammered silver tea services, intricate lace, and furniture that looks like it was designed yesterday. It’s gorgeous. But it’s also a bit tragic. These guys wanted to bring beauty to everyone, but their stuff was so expensive only the ultra-wealthy could afford it. You’ll see the sketches for the Stoclet House in Brussels here. It was their "total work of art" (Gesamtkunstwerk), and the MAK has the original nine-part mosaic cartoons by Gustav Klimt. Standing in front of those is a spiritual experience for any design nerd.
Why the Basement is Secretly the Best Part
Most people get tired after two floors and leave. Don't. You have to go to the MAK Design Lab in the basement. This is where the museum stops looking at the past and starts stressing out about the future—in a good way. It’s organized by themes like "Cooking," "Sitting," and "Communicating."
It’s interactive. It’s messy. It’s about how 3D printing, climate change, and AI are going to change the objects we use every day. They have these amazing displays showing the evolution of the kitchen. Did you know the "Frankfurt Kitchen" from the 1920s basically dictated the layout of every modern apartment kitchen you’ve ever lived in? It’s all right there. The museum bridges the gap between a 1700s lace doily and a biodegradable sneaker.
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The Hidden Gems Nobody Mentions
- The Carpets: The MAK has one of the most famous carpet collections in the world. Specifically, the 16th-century Safavid carpets from Persia. They are kept in a specially dimmed room to protect the fibers. It’s quiet, cool, and honestly, a great place to hide from the summer heat in Vienna.
- The Library: If you want to feel like a scholar, go to the MAK Reading Room. It’s one of those beautiful, old-school libraries with ladders and rows of design books. Anyone can go in and research.
- The Tower: The MAK Geymüllerschlössel is a branch of the museum located in a different district (the 18th). It’s an old summer villa full of Biedermeier furniture. It feels like stepping into a movie set.
Practical Realities of Visiting the Museum of Applied Arts Vienna
Let's get real for a second. Vienna is expensive, and your feet will hurt. The Museum of Applied Arts Vienna is located right at the Wien Mitte station, which makes it super easy to get to from the airport.
Pro Tip: Go on Tuesday evenings. Typically, the museum has extended hours and significantly reduced (or sometimes free) entry after 6:00 PM. It’s a much better vibe when the sun goes down and the lighting in the galleries starts to pop. Also, the museum shop is actually good. Most museum shops sell overpriced postcards, but this one sells legit design pieces and books you won't find on Amazon easily.
The restaurant there, MAK Café (sometimes called Salon Plafond), is actually a destination in its own right. It isn't just "museum food." It’s high-end Viennese cuisine with a modern twist. You can sit under these high, ornate ceilings and have a schnitzel while looking at a contemporary art installation. It’s very "Vienna."
What People Get Wrong
People think this is an "art museum." It’s not. Not exactly. If you go in looking for oil paintings of emperors, you’ll be disappointed. This is a "stuff museum." It’s about the spoon you eat with, the chair you sit on, and the wallpaper you ignore. It’s about the fact that humans have always wanted their functional objects to be beautiful. It’s a history of human desire through the lens of craftsmanship.
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Sometimes the contemporary exhibitions are a bit "out there." You might walk into a room and see a pile of recycled plastic and wonder if you’re in the right place. That’s the point. The MAK isn't afraid to be polarizing. They don't just celebrate the past; they challenge what "good design" even means today. Is a digital NFT "applied art"? They’re asking those questions.
How to Do the MAK Right
If you’re planning a trip, don't try to see it all. You’ll get "museum fatigue" within an hour. Focus on the Wiener Werkstätte collection first—it’s the soul of the place. Then, head down to the Design Lab to see how those old ideas are being recycled into modern tech.
If you have kids, the Design Lab is the only part that will keep them from melting down. There are tactile things and weird shapes. For everyone else, just take a minute to look at the building itself. The grand staircase is a masterpiece of Ringstraße architecture.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- Check the temporary exhibitions: The MAK often hosts massive retrospectives on fashion designers (like Helmut Lang) or architects. These are usually world-class and worth the extra ticket price.
- The "MAK Geymüllerschlössel" catch: This branch is only open during the summer months (usually May to October) on weekends. If you're there in winter, don't bother trekking out to the 18th district.
- Combined Tickets: If you’re a museum hound, check for the Vienna Pass or combined tickets with other Ringstraße museums. It’ll save you about 20%.
- Focus on the Thonet: Look for the No. 14 chair. It’s the "chair of chairs." Understanding how that one object changed global manufacturing makes the rest of the museum make sense.
The Museum of Applied Arts Vienna stays relevant because it refuses to be a mausoleum. It’s a living conversation about why things look the way they do. Whether you care about 18th-century porcelain or 21st-century robotics, you’ll find a thread that connects them here. Just don't forget to look up at the ceilings—sometimes the best art isn't on the walls, it's the room itself.