Viennese Modernity: The Ringstrasse , Otto Wagner, Adolf Loos
Adolf Loos
He does not care much about structure, he is willing to use any structure that will uphold a building. What he cares about is space and the use/division of space.
Adolf Loos
"the architect is a stone mason who has learned Latin."
Otto Wagner
*Jugenstile in New Vienna*
Social Diversification of Vienna
-Aristocratic power in decline -new urban liberal elite emerges -seek 'Equality under Law' for all -maintain social divisions between new elite & masses
Historical Terms for Art Nouveau:
-Art Nouveau: french -Jugenstil: german -Stil Floreale: Italian -Modernisme: spanish
The separation of the arts and crafts:
-Denkmal: the monumental -Grabmal: the useful
Karl Baedeker:
-Handbook for South Germany & Austria and Hungary -Frontispiece (1882)
Loos characteristics of architecture
-anonymous exterior finishes -decorated interior finishes -Raumplan ('space plan', split level) -preserved cultural norms of interior
Modern culture from Loos:
-anonymous, understated -meritocratic, promoted social mobility -presented a mask to the outside world -cultivated the interior
Adolf Loos: (1870-1933)
-born in Brno (Czech) -began designing interiors -rejected architecture as art -criticized middle class & avant-garde circles alike
Modernity is the removal of ornament
-cladding replaces historical ornament
(German) Jugenstil in Sachlichkeit
-objective -rational -pragmatic
Mixed use building
Goldman & Salatsch store; Vienna, Austria (1909-1911)
The Inversion of Decorum
Josephine Baker House -unbuilt-
Old Vienna
Medeival City core
Ringstrasse:
New public spaces, old styles
New Vienna
Outer Ring developments
