The Kunsthaus
Graz emerged as a response to the city's designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2003, a moment that provided an unprecedented opportunity for urban and cultural transformation. At the heart of this initiative was an
international competition, launched in 1999, intending to design a museum gallery that would incorporate the historic Iron House (Eiserne Haus) and reimagine Graz's identity. The competition received 102 submissions from internationally acclaimed architects, including
Zaha Hadid,
Coop Himmelb(l)au,
Morphosis, and
Klaus Kada, showcasing a wide array of architectural philosophies. Chaired by Austrian architect Volker Giencke, the jury comprised esteemed figures such as
Odile Decq,
Kasper König, and
Harald Szeemann, among others. After rigorous deliberation, the panel unanimously selected
Peter Cook and Colin Fournier's bold design. Their proposal stood out not for conforming to the city's architectural traditions but for boldly defying them. As the jury remarked:
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