Enzis & Enzos
The iconic seating furniture of the MuseumsQuartier
Hardly any other object characterizes the MuseumsQuartier as much as the Enzis. Since 2002, they have been a meeting place, a quiet zone, a stage, and a symbol of an open, urban cultural area. Anyone who spends time at the MQ will sooner or later sit on an Enzi.
What are Enzis?
The Enzis are freely accessible seating furniture distributed throughout the MuseumsQuartier. They were developed specifically for the area and have become an integral part of everyday life at the MQ.
- freely accessible seating throughout the MQ
- modular, weatherproof, and versatile
- suitable for sitting, lying down, meeting, and observing
- deliberately low threshold: no obligation to purchase
From design to icon
The history of the Enzis began with an art project in 2002. After the opening of the MuseumsQuartier in June 2001, there was a lack of seating in the courtyards. Artist Josef Trattner responded by designing large-scale foam objects, which visitors spontaneously began using as seats and loungers.
Due to its great success, the MuseumsQuartier invited several teams of architects to design permanent seating for the area. The concept from PPAG architects was convincing: the Enzis first moved into the courtyards as igloos in the winter of 2002 as part of "Winter at the MQ." From 2003 onwards, they were also set up in the summer and have been an integral part of the MQ ever since.
Today, the Enzis are considered an integral part of the area and a symbol of the MuseumsQuartier as the urban "living room of the city."
Colors that stay – and change
One key feature of the Enzis is their color. Since 2003, the MQ courtyard furniture has been regularly repainted in new colors, and since 2008, the current color has been chosen in a public online vote. In this way, the colors reflect the changing face of the MQ and its era.
Current colors: Punch cookie pink & soda lemon yellow
Enzis, Enzos & Co.
Over the years, MQ Hofmöbel furniture has been continuously developed.
Enzi – the original
The original model, made from handcrafted, coated hard foam elements, is compact, striking, and versatile. The current generation revisits the original form but has been technically optimized.
Enzo – the next step
The Enzo was created in 2010 as a collaboration between PPAG architects and product design duo MN*LS. It is hollow, making it particularly robust and durable. The outer contour and size have been deliberately kept the same.
Enzi – the latest generation
Since 2013, the current design has been based on the shape, geometry, and combinability of the Enzis, as well as on the material and production process of the Enzos. A central hole in the seat provides stability, allows rainwater to drain away, and serves as a holder for parasols.
Enzis recycled
As part of the MQ goes Green initiative, Enzis have also been redesigned in terms of materials since 2022. Enzis recycled consist predominantly of recycled materials, including recycled beverage cartons. Already fully recyclable, Enzis thus remain consistently in the material cycle and stand for the conscious use of resources in public spaces.
Awards and international flagship
The Enzis symbolize the MuseumsQuartier as an open, public place beyond consumerism and barriers to access. As furniture for lingering, exchanging ideas, and spending time together, they embody the MQ as a "third place" in Vienna's urban fabric.
Their design quality and significance have also been recognized internationally:
- Adolf Loos State Prize for Design (2005)
- Nomination for the German State Prize for Design (2007)
