Adolf Loos and Weissenhofsiedlung Exhibit

This blog will contrast the development of an Adolf Loos project and a Peter Behren project from the Weissenhofsiedlung exhibiton. Both of whom influenced the modernist movement greatly.

Adolf Loos preferred the use of rectilinear and volumetric designs and was little affected by Art Nouveau. Loos admired simple, direct architecture of modern engineering. “He declared: ‘To seek beauty not only in form and not in ornament is the goal to which all humanity is striving” (Curtis, 70). Many believed that Adolf’s works were merely white cubes with simple cutouts in them for windows (which is evident in the picture below). He believed that ornament should be done away with and that the architectural qualities were allowed to emerge unadorned. Loos was fascinated with everyday objects and he used those to influence his architecture.

The Villa Muller was designed in Prague in 1930 exemplifies best his application of his “Raumplan,” or spatial planning.  This planning placed rooms at different levels to create unique diagonal views that can be framed with openings placed in the walls.

Circulation in Villa Muller

Mies van der Rohe was asked by the Deutscher Werkbund to oversee a design on a brow overlooking Stuttgart. Mies also got help from Walter Gropius, Victor Bourgeois, and Le Corbusier. He was to design a major exhibition in which his overall site plan represented the form of the terrain with laid out blocks of different sizes.

Weissenhofsiedlung

The work of Peter Behren was similar to Loos’ in that he often used a more geometrical design, although he tried to stay more universal in his design. Visually they were also similar in their plain colors and limited cut outs. Although in Behren’s work in the Weissenhofsiedlung exhibition, he contrasts Loos by using similar floors, rather than the split-level plans. Not only does Peter make use of geometric shapes as an overall design for the building, but he also incorporates it into the floor plans.

Terrassenhaus- Peter Behrens

Both architects imply the use of little ornament and attempt to present form and function as an ornament in itself. I believe both are successful in doing so by creating their spaces around the specific functions of the house. The abstract uses of volumes certainly influence many of architects today.

Curtis, William J.R. Modern Architecture Since 1900. 3rd ed. New York: Phaidon, 2011. Print. 

Images courtesy of Google Images