Otto Wagner studied at the Polytechnisches Institute in Vienna from 1857 to -59, architecture at the Königliche Bauakademie in Berlin until 1860, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna until 1863.
From 1862 to -64, Wagner was an assistant at architect Heinrich Förster’s studio while also designing architectural competition entries, including the Belin Cathedral and the Hamburg city hall. During the 1880’s and -90’s, Wagner designed several buildings, including the office building of the Österreichische Länderbank and the apartment block at Stadiograsse 6-8, the Villa Wagner at Hüttelbergstrasse 26, and the Stadtbahn, all in Vienna.
In 1894, Wagner was appointed professor of architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he stayed until his retirement in 1912. In 1899, Wagner became a member of the Vienna Secession, whose ideas he tried to realize in the design of the church of Steinhof mental hospital in 1905-07. Prior to this, Wagner had designed the office for the Österreichische Postsparkasse, for which he also designed an iconic collection of furniture. The most well-known is the bentwood armchair called No. 6516, which was produced by Thonet.
Otto Wagner’s last project was the apartment block at Neustiftgasse/Döblergasse and a second Villa Wagner at Hüttelbergstrasse 28 in Vienna. Wagner also published several books, including Architecture- a Guidebook for his Students to This Field of Art, in 1896. In 1918, Wagner passed away at the age of 77.
