Island in the Mur
Island or boat? It isn’t easy to tell with this extravagant steel construction by US-American artist Vito Acconci. The Island in the Mur was commissioned as part of the city’s role as Capital of Culture in 2003. What is clear is its function as a link between river and city, a wonderful place to drink coffee or enjoy a cocktail. With the river Mur swirling cheerfully by on both left and right sides, from the Murinsel you can appreciate a completely new perspective of the city of Graz.
Good to know
No, visiting the Murinsel Graz is free of charge. The Murinsel is freely accessible and open all year round. It is located between Südtiroler Platz and Lendkai and can be easily reached on foot from the old town.
The Murinsel Graz was planned in 1999, constructed in 2002, and opened at the beginning of the European Capital of Culture year 2003.
The Murinsel Graz is a shell-shaped structure, about 50 meters long and 20 meters wide - an unusual landmark in the water. It was built for the European Capital of Culture year 2003 based on a design by the New York artist Vito Acconci.
This floating shell is connected to both banks of the Mur River by two footbridges and houses a café as well as an amphitheater.
The Murinsel Graz has the shape of a shell and was built based on a design by the New York artist Vito Acconci.
At night, the Murinsel Graz is illuminated in colorful lights, making it a popular photo spot.
The best way to reach the Murinsel Graz is by tram lines 3 and 5 (stop: Schlossbergplatz). From there, it’s just a short walk to the island in the Mur River.
Details
The island has brought the river Mur back to the people of Graz. Up to a few years ago, the river had been polluted by sewage water and industrial effluent. So the fact that the Mur had dug itself 12m deeper into its riverbed after its regulation in the 19th century hardly bothered people. Now the river connecting and dividing the city has a good quality of water again, has become inviting.
Graz as "Cultural Capital of Europe 2003" - an impetus to a fresh start.
Graz-born Robert Punkenhofer inspired the New York artist Vito Acconci to design an accessible artificial island. The project was realized as a 47m-long reticular steel construction. The curved and twisted shape can be associated with a half-opened shell. In its open part, wave-like blue benches form an amphitheatre for events of all kinds. Under the domed glass roof cooled by water, a café in blue and white offers the opportunity to enjoy being close to Mur - a new feeling even for locals. Between the café and the amphitheatre a three-dimensional maze made of ropes, and a slide are promising an "island adventure" for children.
What is called an island, is a ship in fact. She is held by an anchor and is stabilized additionally by the two footbridges connecting her to the river banks. She has even got navigation lights. As a warning to other ships possibly straying into Mur. But as it is shining in bright blue at night, the Mur Island cannot and will not be overlooked anyway.
By the way: After the "Cultural Capital" year the island would have been sold to another city on another river. However, the locals have fallen in love with it and so it will stay anchored in the river. Probably for the next 50 years. And a once-in-a-century flood will not distroy it. That's what analyses made by the Graz University of Technology promise us.
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