Steiner House
Quick Summary
The Steiner House, completed in 1910 in Vienna, Austria, is a landmark building in European Modernism. Designed by architect Adolf Loos, it was built for the painter Lilly Steiner. Loos, a proponent of Modernist ideals, argued against unnecessary ornamentation, believing beauty resided in function and structure. This philosophy is evident in the Steiner House's sparse, white exterior walls, which were a deliberate reaction against the decorative Secessionist movement prevalent at the time.12
The house's design cleverly navigated strict planning regulations that limited street-front buildings to a single story. Loos used a semicircular, metal mansard roof to create the appearance of a single story from the street while allowing for three stories at the rear. Constructed with reinforced concrete, the Steiner House is considered one of the first private homes built with this material and is regarded by some as the first completely modern dwelling.12
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