Loss Interiors

Loss Interiors in Pilsen

Adolf Loos
(born 10th December 1870 in Brno – died 23rd August 1933 in Kalksburg near Vienna)

Adolf Loos is considered to be the best architect of Central Europe of the first third of 20th  century and a co-founder of world modern purist architecture that is characterised by pure cubic shapes, the absence of ornaments, its simplicity and functionality and noble materials.

At the turn of 1920s, Adolf Loos often visited Pilsen. His third wife, photographer Olga Beck came from Pilsen. It was in Pilsen where he found clients that were able to appreciate his design and his talent. They were often customers or contractors of one Pilsen company called Kapsa – Müller. The cooperation with famous architect was a prestigious issue for the company (The famous Villa Müller in Prague was built for one of Müller´s descendants from Pilsen). In Pilsen, Adolf Loos, completed realisation of Villa Brummel (Husova 58) and designed 13 flat interiors.  Architecture experts consider Loss interiors to be one of the biggest attractions of Pilsen. Taking into consideration the current approach to modern architecture, the collection of interiors is very high-valued also in the context of European architecture of 20th century as a whole. In 2003, at the occasion of 70th anniversary of Loss death, the National Heritage Institute in Pilsen organised a symposium. The event lit the interest of the City of Pilsen and encouraged it to save the exceptional historic heritage. 

In the recent years, the city of Pilsen has gradually acquired a few of Loss´ interiors; the rest is maintained by private owners. One of the owners promised to open the interior for public once a year. At the present time, interiors are mostly empty, therefore only a small part of original design is visible. A future vision is to open Loss´ interiors for public as a permanent exhibition.

Interiors by Adolf Loos in Pilsen:

• Bendova 10: former flat of  Vilem and  Gerta Krauz,  the flat is on the List of Movable Cultural Monuments , 1930 -1931
• Klatovská 12: former flat of doctor Josef Vogel, owned by the City of Pilsen
• Klatovská 19: former flat of  Hugo Semler, the building used to be owned by the Czech Army, nowadays the owner is the City of Pilsen, 1931-32
• Klatovská 110: owned by the City of Pilsen, 1931-34
• Husova 58: private property, the building reconstructed by Loos in 1928-29
• Husova 20: the flat was built in 1931-32
• náměstí Republiky 22: private property, 1931
• Klatovská 140 : private property, 1930
• Náměstí Míru 2 : 1928, destroyed 1937-38
• Plachého 6: 1907-09, 1929-30, destroyed
• Šafaříkovy sady 9: 1929-30, the building was demolished in 1974 

Most famous interiors by Adolf Loos:

• American Bar, Vienna (1908)
• House of Tailors, Vienna (1909)
• Steiner Haus, Vienna (1910)
• Looshaus (Goldman & Salatsch building), Michaelerplatz, Vienna (1910)
• Rufer Haus, Vienna (1922)
• Villa Stross, Vienna (1922)
• Maison Tzara (residence of Tristan Tzara), Montmartre, Paris (1925)
• Villa Moller, Vienna (1926)
• Villa Müller, Prague (1928)
• Khuner Villa, Kreuzberg, Austria (1929) 

Special events

Open days of Loss interiors in Pilsen

Four Loss interiors (Bendova 10, Husova 58, Klatovská 12  and Klatovská 19) are open to public twice a year, on the occasion of the International Day For Monuments and Sites (in April) and the European Heritage Day (in September). The guided tours are organized every hour in Czech only. The maximum capacity for each tour is 15 people, therefore it is necessary to make your tour reservation at the Information Centre of Pilsen City (phone number: 378 035 330, email: info@icpilsen.cz).

The tour includes the following places. None of them is open to public except for the dates mentioned.

Bendova 10
Loss´ interior in Bendova 10, the former flat of the Kraus family, was made in 1930-1931. The interior in a patrician house was used as a flat unit recently. An attractive music salon, a dining room with marble veneer and mirror walls, together with a bedroom containing fitted furniture represent a big collection of Loss´ design.

Klatovská 19
The interior was installed in 1931 -1932. In the past, the building was owned by the Army of the Czech Republic. The city of Pilsen has been its owner since 2009. In the first floor, there are three rooms containing fragments of Loss´ design – a music salon with a fireplace, a large living room and a dining room. 

Klatovská 12
Loss´s interior used to be a flat of doctor Vogel. Loss rebuilt the flat between 1908 and 1910 and afterwards redesigned it for the purposes of its owner in 1928-1929. The original living room was renovated. Today it serves as a meeting room. In the building, there is a seat of one of Pilsen city organizations.

Husova 58
The part of the Loss heritage in Pilsen is located in the house of a private owner. The house was rebuilt by Loss in 1928-1929. Until now three rooms have been renovated. The main attraction is a monumental fireplace.