Villa Muller

Stuart Jacome
Arch 211- M11
Prof. Khorsandi
Blog Post
Villa Muller
The Villa Muller was designed by famous architect Adolf Loos. The architect was commissioned to do this project by civil engineer and building contractor, Frantisek Muller.  The Villa was built in Prague, in Czech Republic 1928-30. This house is a prime example of early modern architecture and the use of raumplan. Raumplan is a planning method which is based on isolated rooms that are dynamic in section. The method emphasizes the scale each room and often times they are at different levels, therefore steps are required to access them.  The concept of the villa was to express Loos’ ideas of economy and functionality. Raumplan is spatial and clearly shown in Villa Muller through multi-level parts of each room; which hit at their importance, functionality, and symbolism.
In contrast to Wright, Loos wanted to keep the public outside and private inside completely separate. Loos believed that the building should be “dumb outside and only reveal wealth in the inside”. The exterior also expressed his theory in an essay “Ornament and Crime”. In the essay Loos criticizes ornamented surfaces. The facade of the villa was not ornamented which supported this theory. The designed exterior of the villa is a cubic white facade, flat roof, irregular windows, and terraces with yellow sections that distinguish the outside where the view could be seen by the public eye.
Loos uses raumplan at different levels to create a “careful architectural promenade” between the outside and inside. The interior of the villa is highly decorated with different materials such as marble, wood, silk surfaces, and comfortable furniture. The approach to the entrance of the ground floor is low; with strong dark hues of blue and green for the tiles. Then this opens into a cloakroom area that is very open in plan. The walls are in this area are white with big windows; however this room is still low. Further down the staircase takes individuals around a ninety degree angle turn through two marble pillars into a double height, open plan sitting room. This promenade extends past the double heighted dining room to the upper floors of the villa. Loos also uses the raumplan to create “unusual and exciting” views into other surrounding rooms. The top level contains a roof terrace that frames a view of the Prague Cathedral through the window. Loos’ concept for the creation of space, raumplan, is also evident in the living room of the villa. The living room is the center for the family’s cultural life, and a place to gather with friends. The living room contains a large circular table, the chairs also have contrasting tones; olive colors for the master and pink for the lady of the house. Connected to the living room, is the dining room on the mezzanine level. An open staircase leads to the upper levels. Loos uses three load bearing pillars to reduce the space taken by a long wall. This creates a “rich articulated space”.



"Villa Müller." Villa Capra Rotonda | Architectuul. Accessed May 07, 2018. http://architectuul.com/architecture/villa-muller.

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