The Urn and the Chamberpot: Adolf Loos 1900-30
The Urn and the
Chamberpot is definitely a possible
precedent for design work, as Adolf Loos has influenced many architects with his
bold and important architectural style and beliefs. He believed that we should
build according to reason, and he actively opposed the Art Nouveau
architectural movement. Most predominantly, his work was highly influential on
Le Corbusier. (Colquhoun, 2002)
The ideas of Adolf Loos have remained relevant throughout the years. He is the author of a famous essay named "Ornament and Crime" in which he explains why he believed in the expulsion of ornament from useful objects. (Colquhoun, 2002) I think that Loos has an interesting approach to architecture which should be taken into consideration. Originally I thought that Loos believed in the expulsion of all decoration from architecture, however after this reading I have been able to understand Loos much more clearly. He believes that ornament should be functional, otherwise it is unnecessary. I think that this is a really interesting idea which I have come to agree with. |
The image above shows the 'Looshaus', where Loos integrated a large commercial building alongside a surrounding historical context. (Colquhoun, 2002) The materiality of the ground floor and mezzanine levels differ to the upper levels of the building to serve their separate functions. The lower floors were designed to hold gentleman's outfitters, whereas the upper floors are apartments. (Colquhoun, 2002) It could be said that this design technique could be used for many different scenarios, for example to separate a public space from a private space. The large windows and doors are inviting to the public, however one would not assume that the windows on the upper levels were for use by the public in comparison. I think that this is a definite precedent for future design projects.
Personally, I feel that this way of designing is interesting, as splitting up the different functions of the buildings gives each element a different feel and atmosphere. This approach to architecture relates to Loos' essay "Why Should a Man be Well - Dressed?" which is a simple way of imagining how you might design for different functions.
This image shows Loos' concept of Raumplan, which is a way of putting together buildings without 'floor one' and 'floor two'. The different rooms are at different levels and heights rather than having one flat space, with another flat space above.
I feel that this concept is exciting as the multiple levels control the circulation around buildings, and different rooms can be elevated and set above and below each other to create different levels of privacy, capture different views and levels of light. The concept sounds simple yet could be manipulated within my future designs to create a complex set of plans which take full advantage of the context of the building.
However I feel that on a large scale Raumplan may become confusing and difficult to move around. For example if you were walking around a huge department store and each department was on a different level with different connections to other levels then it could become difficult to find your way from A to B. Also, a building with many different levels would be inappropriate for somebody who is disabled or elderly and frail. There are lots of small stair cases and therefore a standard lift would struggle to serve every individual level.
I developed an understanding of Adolf Loos' ideas and work, especially
his use of 'Raumplan' by constructing a model of the Villa Müller, designed by
Adolf Loos. We constructed the model in a group of 4. When looking at the
model, it is clear that Raumplan has been extensively used in designing this
building as each room appears at a different level, and there is no distinct
separation between levels. It is said that the Villa Müller is Loos’
masterpiece, and after constructing this model I have a clearer understanding
of this. Building a physical model really helped me to understand just how
Adolf Loos designs, as the interior is very much opposite to the exterior. The
external facades are simple and the windows are plainly aligned, however the
interior is much more 'ornamental' in its design. I find this really
interesting and would love to design using this method of spatial layout. We
actually use the interior of the building and so it is clear that architects
should spend longer designing a functional building than a pretty one.
This technique could also be used as a design precedent, as Loos managed to create interesting spaces by not sticking to the constraints of the 'ground floor' and 'first floor'.
bibliography
Colquhoun, A. 2002. Oxford History of Art: Modern Architecture. [eBook] Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available via: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/nottinghamtrent/reader.action?docID=10613800 [Accessed 28/04/2015]
Diaz-Griffith, M. 2012. The Poetics of Imperfection. Wordpress: New York. Available at: http://theantefix.com/2012/12/11/the-poetics-of-imperfection/ [Accessed 02/05/2015]
Galinsky, 2006. Villa Muller, Prague [website] avaialable at http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/villamueller/ [Accessed 03/11/2014]
Adapted by Hamdan, R., Hewitt, E., Sparrow, V., Stapleton, A. from Dunster, D. 1986. Key buildings of the 20th century. 1. London: Architect Press. Pages 56-57. [Architectural drawings]
Diaz-Griffith, M. 2012. The Poetics of Imperfection. Wordpress: New York. Available at: http://theantefix.com/2012/12/11/the-poetics-of-imperfection/ [Accessed 02/05/2015]
Galinsky, 2006. Villa Muller, Prague [website] avaialable at http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/villamueller/ [Accessed 03/11/2014]
Adapted by Hamdan, R., Hewitt, E., Sparrow, V., Stapleton, A. from Dunster, D. 1986. Key buildings of the 20th century. 1. London: Architect Press. Pages 56-57. [Architectural drawings]