Adolf Loos(1870 - 1933)

Yuichiro Noguchi
Aug 25
3 min read

Updated: Aug 26

Born in Brno (at that time in the Austro-Hungarian Empire). One of the most influential architects in Europe at the end of the 19th century. At the same time, he is also known for writing speeches that shape the basis of the modernist movement and attracting attention.

He studied architecture in Liberets and Dresden, and then stayed in the United States for three years from 1893 to 1896. He was impressed by the innovative efficiency of American industrial architecture, and his influence is also reflected in his own work. After that, he moved to Vienna, where he wrote many comments. Notable is "Decoration and Sin (Ornament und Verbrechen)", which claimed that removing decorative elements in architecture is a symbol of spiritual power.

Adolf Loh, who was active as one of the pioneers of modernist architecture, gave birth to the sensational phrase "decoration is sin". Although it is an idea that was born between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, it is interesting that it can be understood in modern times in its essence.

"Decoration is sin"

"The shape of a thing lasts a long as it has a lifespan as a substance. However, decorations lose their value when they get bored.

The decorative people's claim to the aforementioned loin is as follows.

"A consumer buys furniture, and after ten years, he gets tired of that furniture and replaces it with new furniture. Such consumers are preferr to those who do not replace things until they run out of their life and become unusable. The industry that makes things wants it, and many people can find jobs by replacing things one after another.

Buy new products by consuming them. As a result, the economy circulates, and the earlier the cycle, the more products will be sold, and the work of those who make products will increase. As a result, when the wealth of society as a whole increases and becomes rich, it is exactly the idea of modern capitalist society.

In response, Loin responds as follows.

"Then I have a good idea. Let's set the city on fire and burn it. You can set fire all over the country and burn it. If you do that, you will be able to make a lot of money, live a comfortable life, and the whole country will be boiling.

It's as if you're listening to the true feelings of countries and companies that have benefited from war.

In addition, Loin says.

"Even if I buy something, if I like the shape and material and can use it for a long time, and if I am sure that it is well made and durable, I will buy it even if I pay twice as much as an item with extra decoration. Let's say that it's healthier than decorating it to make you get bored quickly and buy the next product.

I don't think it's a story from the early 20th century... Rather, is it not progressing at all, or is history repeating itself?

In an era when building permits are not granted due to lack of decoration, Loes's idea of following the way of "architecture" that he believes in is not simply a criticism of decoration, but rather an attitude that does not cater to the times, to modern architects such as Le Corbusier. It goes without saying that it had a big impact.

At first, while pure and wonderful ideas and culture spread to the masses, William Morris, who had doubts about the spread to cheap and shoddy manufacturing of money-worshipingists, called the Arts & Crafts movement by Adolf Lawe's "Decoration and Sin" I think it created "evil".

While capitalism and modernism have brought economic development and material wealth mainly to developed countries, modernism has already passed 100 years, and I think that imitation and poor manufacturing are spreading in the same way in today's world.

Looking at the current situation where the movement for sustainability has begun in the world, I am not the only one who sympathizes with the ideas of my predecessors, such as William Morris and Adolf Law.