Kugelmugel

Republic of Kugelmugel
Flag
Official languages	German
Government	Republic
• President	Linda Treiber
Establishment	1972-1976
Population
• Census	600 non-residents
Time zone	UTC +1
Website www.kugelmugel.at

Kugelmugel, officially the Republic of Kugelmugel is a micronation located in Vienna, Austria. Kugelmugel was established as a soverign state by artist Edwin Lipburger in between 1972 and 1976. Lipburger had been involved in a dispute with the Austrian government over building permits for a spherical shaped house he had built with his son, Nikolaus Lipburger, in 1971. The house, located in Katzelsdorf, Austria is in the shape of a sphere and was constructed out of timber blocks and zinc sheets. The house served as Lipburger's studio until local authorities were notified of the house's existence, beginning a series of disputes between Lipburger and the local authorities. These disputes would lead to Lipburger declaring Kugelmugel's independence around the mid 1970s, partially to protect the house from destruction by local authorities. After refusing to pay taxes and erecting unapproved street signs, Lipburger was arrested and sent to jail for 10 weeks until he received a pardon from President of Austria Rudolf Kirchschläger. After a suggestion from Mayor of Vienna Helmut Zilk to move the structure to Prater Park in Vienna, which was agreed upon by the Lipburgers, the house was moved to the Prater in June 1982. Lipburger died in January 2015 and in September 2023 Linda Treiber became the new President of Kugelmugel.

History

Prehistory

The Republic of Kugelmugel is composed mostly of a spherical structure constructed by Austrian Artist Edwin Lipburger and his son, Nikolaus Lipburger, located at the Preater in Vienna, Austria. The structure, which Lipburger dubbed "Sphaera 2000", was constructed in 1971 and was initially intended as a studio for Lipburger. The structure was built in the Asutrian town of Katzenlsdorf on the property of a local farmer. The structure was made mostly of wood and was covered in zinc sheets to protect it from the elements.

Soon after the construction of the structure, Lipburger was informed by local authorities that the structure was in violation of local building regulations which prohibited habitable spherical-shaped homes. As the legal conflict escalated, Lipburger began to construct unapproved street signs and attempted to make his structure into its own township. He eventually declared the independent Municipality of Kugelmugel in 1976; this was later converted to the Republic of Kugelmugel. As a result of this protest, Lipburger was sentenced to prison in 1979 over his erection of unapproved street signs. Lipburger spent 10 weeks in prison. After the self delcared free state of "Artopia" created by other Austrian artists was welcomed by member of the Austrian government, the different response between "Artopia" and Kugelmugel was compared and Austrian President Rudolf Kirchschläger decided to pardon Lipburger.

In July 2022, the Archduke of Duckionary held a state visit to Kugelmugel and established a friendship between the nations.

The nation is currently (May 2023) in the progress of a physical renovation. Mag. Linda Treiber was appointed as Manager and leads the activities of the renovation.