Adolf loos1870-1933

“…The evolution of culturemarches with the elimination of ornament from useful objects”.

About Adolf

Born in Czechoslovakia Studied at Royal and Imperial state technical college in Rechenberg.Worked in US as a mason and eventually obtained a job with ar.Carl Mayreder.1897-established own practice.

Adolf loos gained great notoriety for his writings than for his buildings.Reason should determine the way we build, opposed the decorative Art Nouveau movement.His belief-

EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE JUSTIFIED ON RATIONAL GROUNDS WAS SUPERFLUOUS AND SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.

CULTURE RESULTED FROM THE RENUNCIATION OF PASSIONS AND THAT WHICH BRINGS MAN TO THE ABSENCE OF ORNAMENTATION GENERATES SPIRITUAL POWER.Loos argued against decoration by pointing to economic and historical reasons for its development.

Loos attacked contemporary design as well as imitative styling of the 19th century.

He looked on contemporary decoration as mass-produced, mass-consumed trash.

one of his essays ORNAMENT AND CRIME describes “The suppression of decoration as necessary for regulating passion”.

His works

RUFER HOUSESTEINER HOUSEKHUNER VILLAGOLDMAN AND SALATSCH BUILDING

Steiner house1910 Vienna, Austria

Style- early modernNotes- simple, plain modern garden facade.

A metal-roof arched down to the ceiling of the ground floor at the front of the house, which was turned into a flat wood-and-cement roof.

RUFER HOUSE

Construction system:-bearing masonryStyle:-early modernHouse has 4 floors and janitors lodging and services are located in basement.The pivot of the composition is single central pillar which serves structural function and conduct electrical, water and heating systems.

Structural system is simple.Load bearing external walls.The pillar reduces internal dividing walls to a minimum.

GOLDMAN AND SALATSCH BUILDING

The statue of Hercules at the palace gates appeared to scowl across the cobbled road at the offending building. Some say that even the little dogs, pulling their masters along Michaelerplatz, lifted their noses in disgust.

Goldman and salatsch buildingMore than seven centuries went into the creation of the Imperial Palace, also known as the Hofburg. The vast palace complex includes six museums, a national library, government buildings, and the imperial apartments. The entrance, the Michaelertor, is guarded by grandiose statues of Hercules and other heroic figures. And then, steps away from the Michaelertor, is the Goldman and Salatsch building designed by Adolf Loos.

SUBMITTED BY KSHAMA GHOSH