Villa Muller , Adolf Loos- 3/27/18

Emilia Kightley-Sutter

Villa Muller was designed by architect Adolf Loos  was commissioned by Frantisek Muller and his wife Milada Mullerova. It is set in Prague in the Czech Republic. Muller was an engineer and had partial ownership of a construction company, Kaspa and Muller. His company focused on reinforced concrete and progression of building techniques. Loos was a fan of designing concepts that are timeless, and related to the function of the building. During the initial designing of the structure, Loos fell sick and the first architect on the job Karel Lhota helped in designing. Before communists took control of the house, the couple lived freely for 18 years.

It was designed in 1930, it was noted as an example of modernist architecture, fusing economy and functionality. The house had a dynamic section with discreet rooms, following the basics of raumplan on the interior and exterior.  This is seen with the multilevel parts of individual spaces, dissolving the plan and creating contiguous, continual spaces, rooms, and terraces. This creates spatial relationship rather stagnant 1 level floor plans. Loos often criticized decorated surfaces, the facade of Villa Muller displayed no ornament, rather was white and cubic. He aimed to separate public and private spaces for the user, clearly drawing a line for experience. The interior is covered in comfortable furniture, marble, wood, and silk surfaces, these materials contrast the exterior white stucco facades, with irregular placed windows varying in size. His concept was to appear to be dull and regular outside and to reveal wealth and fortune inside.  The unusual placed levels give the user an intentional architectural promenade from outside in.

The first approach to the Villa Muller features a low entryway, which has strong dark hues highlighting the entry. There is then a cloakroom area, generously spaces with white walls and a single large window, allowing in light all while making the space seem larger with the lack of color or interruption of ornament. At the far end there is a staircase which follows through to an open plan, double height sitting room- the main volume of Loos’ composition of spaces. This living room was the center of family gatherings, spending time with friends and the main space for socializing for the family.

Continuing the promenade, there is then a dining room a few steps up almost at a mezzanine level and then the path to the upper floors are revealed, the irregular raumplan gives users unexpected views into other spaces adjacent to the promenade. The open staircase leading this path enables an entire wall to be broken down into three load bearing columns. This architectural move is visually appealing and unusual for the time period. The highest level hosts a roof terrace with a free standing wall featuring a view of the Prague Cathedral through a single window.

The architecture isn’t the only interesting thing about this design. The interior design created rich colors and feeling connecting spaces. A table in the center of the main living space is surrounded by various types of seating, which all hold contrasting colors such as olive green, pink, etc.