Ornament and Crime by Adolf Loos- response

Adolf Loos was a functionalist who has a very radical in his idea; he had mentioned that, “Ornament is wasted manpower and therefore wasted health.”  He says “no” to any ornament, and come out with the idea to having more free space in the room for functionality. In my opinion, I like the simplicity and modern design but also appreciate the other ornament for decoration, such as the interior element.  Okay, it depends on what you prefer.  

Modernism did take away the color, pattern, and a beautiful ornament, somehow it reject the neo classic (old) art. But to really think about it, do we need ornament? I know it ‘unnecessary’, but nothing is wrong on it. I kind of disagree with his idea, having decoration doesn’t mean wasting the space but something it can also give a better functionality. And by “not” having any ornament doesn’t mean it will give you a better space and more function in it. Don’t get me wrong I like both style, either simple or decorative.

However, apple already prove to us that minimalist can be really trendy and good design. You can see that there is different kind of style now a day. He said that the person who has a simple style is richer than the other who likes are decorative. Today we still see people dressing in vintage and also classic black/white, so I don’t think there is any right or wrong in any kind of style and it can’t say which one is richer than the other one. But he is still right with the simple style, this article was written in 19 century but he can see what is going to happen, and it already happen today.

From Bauhaus to Our House by Tom Wolfe – a book review

First of all I think this book is very hard to understand. However, in my response, I think this book is the author perspective toward the modern architecture and show his passion in modern architecture, seem like a good book for modernism lovers’. At first Wolf try to give a background of historical event in architecture on how did modern architecture started. The book gives the idea on how the modern architect have come in place and also mention a lot of architect who involved in Modernism.

In the first chapter he had mention about the system of architecture school named Bauhaus School, in Weimar. The school must produce a creative ideas and theories of classical architecture. So later Bauhaus came up with one methods and a way to practice that can be used in school, which is “art and technology”.

After the war in Europe, the architect from Bauhaus school must migrate to USA. After read this chapter, I just realize that Modern Architecture came from Europe, I always thought that it came from USA.

Wolf mentions many architect name, but there is one name that I familiar with the most is Frank Lloyd Wright. He was considering as one of the most influential architect in history, which I think it’s true. Frank was one of the very first who design the modern architecture. Most of his work might look simple plane and flat, but actually there are many meaning toward it.

In conclusion, after reading this book I appreciate the modern architecture, it’s not just a simple concrete wall, flat opening, but actually there is more things in it rather than its appearance.