'Ornament and Architecture'

Paper Summary:

A paper discussing Adolf Loos' philosophy of architecture in relation to his 'Ornament and Crime' thesis. Loos' saw utilitarian design devoid of ornamentation as needed to promote human creativity. He reacted strongly to mass produced ornament in particular and its ugly implications in terms of how human beings found a false solace in all that ornamentation might hide.

From the Paper:

"Adolf Loos (1870-1933) was born a stonemason's son in Brunn, Czechoslovakia. He studied for two years in the Royal and Imperial State College in Reichenberg, Bohemia, before having to serve two years in the army. He then attended the College of Technology in Dresden, for three years, studying Architecture. He went to the United States where he worked as a mason, floor layer and dishwasher, observing the society around him and admiring much of its architecture. Returning to Europe, he was employed by the architect, Carl Mayreder, and in 1898, Loos had his own practice in Vienna."

More papers on 'Ornament and Architecture':

• Comparison Essay # 4313 : "Ornament and Architecture"
• Term Paper # 33122 : "Weaving and Architecture"
• Essay # 15452 : "A History of Architecture" by Spiro Kostof"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: