Adolf Loos was one of the pioneers of European Modern architecture in the early 20th century.
A German speaker born in Brno, Loos carried out a lot of his most important projects in Vienna. However, the Czech Republic can also boast buildings by the architect, including the renowned Villa Muller in Prague. Loosâs work in this country is the subject of a new exhibition which has just opened in the Czech capital.
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Villa set to clinch Sidwell deal ... was born in 1870 in Brno, and projects carried out there, in Prague and in PlzeĹ feature in the show âAdolf Loos â Works in the Czech Landsâ which has just got underway at the City of Prague Museum. I asked curator Maria Szadkowska how many of Loosâs works were to be found in this country today.
âAt the present time there are 15 interiors in PlzeĹ and two villas â the Villa Muller in Prague and another villa in HruĹĄovany, near Brno. There is also one in SmĂchov, the Winternitz Villa, though that was carried out in co-operation with Karel Lhota. And thereâs a big sugar factory in HruĹĄovany that may be his work, though thatâs not confirmed.â
The best known of those works is without question the Villa Muller, Loosâs masterpiece, which was completed in the Prague suburb of StĹeĹĄovice in 1930. It is now a protected building and has enjoyed a happier fate than some of the architectâs interiors.
âThe system which followed the second world war wasnât particularly concerned with looking after such cultural monuments. Many items were actually classified as protected but still disappeared, including interiors in PlzeĹ. But that shouldnât be understood in a pessimistic way â it was just the product of a certain era. Now itâs our task to protect those items that remain.â
Years of research and preparation went into the new Loos exhibition, which features extensive photographs of his work, glass pieces, furniture, and original plans. The latter are written in both German and Czech; Maria Szadkowska explains why.
âAdolf Loos couldnât speak any other language but German. So to carry out projects in the Czech lands he had to get Czech architects to prepare building documentation in Czech, which was the official language.â
âAdolf Loos â Works in the Czech Landsâ runs at the City of Prague Museum at Florenc until April 5.
(radio-Prague)
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