Learning to Dwell: Adolf Loos in the Czech Lands

It might be the generation of architects that followed - from Le Corbusier, to Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright - that usually steal the spotlight when it comes to great architecture masters namedropping, however were it not for Moravia-born architect Adolf Loos (1870-1933), today’s design history books may have looked very different indeed.
Germany-educated Loos led the way towards the International Style with several built projects and essays, like his seminal 1908 work ‘Ornament and Crime’. In Le Corbusier’s own words: 'Loos swept right beneath our feet, and it was a Homeric cleansing -- precise, philosophical and logical. In this Loos has had a decisive influence on the destiny of architecture.'
Paying tribute to this architecture pioneer, the RIBA, together with the City of Prague Museum, the Czech Centre London and the Austrian Cultural Forum London, is hosting a large-scale exhibition at its London headquarters, opening this week. The show leads the visitor from the architect’s designs in the cities of Prague, Pilsen and Brno, through to his works in Austria, where he lived for many years, as well as the more recent restoration works at his iconic Villa Müller (1928-30).
Feast your eyes on some of the Czech architect’s best creations; from famous villas, like the Villa Müller and the house for Josef Winternitz (1931-32), to furniture designs such as the 'Modernista' chaise-longue, and his beautifully detailed interiors – examples are the Café Museum and the Kartner (American) Bar. Drawings, models and original furniture, never seen before in Britain, will be gracing both RIBA exhibition galleries, while previously unseen material from the RIBA collections (who contributed to the Adolf Loos Archive) will also take centre stage.
From lesser-known facts for the history buffs, to great photography and, of course, iconic architectural design in abundance, this exhibition will have something for everybody.
The American Bar in Vienna
The Modernista chaise longue by Adolf Loos, still in production today
An original dining chair by Adolf Loos
An original stool designed by Adolf Loos
© Martin Polak
The Villa Muller in Prague designed in 1930 by Adolf Loos originally for Mr. František Müller and his wife, Milada Müllerová
Interior of the Villa Müller
The children’s room at the Villa Müller
ADDRESS
Galleries 1& 2 and RIBA Library
RIBA, 66 Portland Place
London, W1
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Prodrive updates its sleek racing simulator with new craft and fresh tech
Race at home in style with the latest version of Prodrive’s racing simulator, now equipped with Bang & Olufsen sound
-
A local architect’s guide to Joshua Tree
Mirtilla Alliata di Montereale shares her favourite things to do to slow down, look closely, and discover Joshua Tree through a more intentional lens
-
Art meets perfume in cross-disciplinary fragrance series Nez 1+1
Talents from film and fragrance come together to create Ansongo, the latest scent resulting from a creative matchmaking project by perfume revue Nez
-
Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – a project built with accessibility at its heart
The dwelling, which you can visit in Illinois, is a classic example of Wright’s Usonian architecture, and was also built for a client with a disability long before accessibility was widely considered
-
A guide to modernism’s most influential architects
From Bauhaus and brutalism to California and midcentury, these are the architects who shaped modernist architecture in the 20th century
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles home faces closure
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House is the city’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now amidst city budget cuts, it will face closure and its status at the risk of being delisted
-
In Seth Rogan's 'The Studio', midcentury masterpieces are the star
The AppleTV+ series features some architectural gems which eagle-eyed audiences will have recognised
-
This ‘architourism’ trip explores India’s architectural history, from Mughal to modernism
Architourian is offering travellers a seven-night exploration of northern India’s architectural marvels, including Chandigarh, the city designed by Le Corbusier
-
How Le Corbusier defined modernism
Le Corbusier was not only one of 20th-century architecture's leading figures but also a defining father of modernism, as well as a polarising figure; here, we explore the life and work of an architect who was influential far beyond his field and time
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildings
The JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act