Kunsthaus Graz

A contemporary art museum opened in 2003, designed by architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier — the only building in the world featuring what is known as the 'BIX' façade: 930 fluorescent tubes beneath a translucent acrylic shell that shift light patterns and function as a giant pixel matrix visible from the banks of the Mur at night. The column-free interior provides 11,000 square metres of exhibition space dedicated entirely to temporary shows, with no permanent collection on display. The people of Graz immediately nicknamed the building 'Friendly Alien' — a name the architects never proposed, but never disputed either.