Adolf Loos was an Austrian architect who was best known for the modern architectural style created by his theory of ornaments. He explains briefly his thoughts on his essay “Ornament and Crime” (1908) where he stated the cons of ornamentation not only in architecture but also in different aspects of life.
Initially, he uses metaphors to explain the ages of humans to emphasize the process of modernization as he believes that as time passes, human beings become more modernized each and every minute. Objects ornamented with carvings or luxurious materials were commonly used in the past. Adolf’s view is that the ornamentation might seem to be right ‘in the past’, but ‘in modern times’, it is much more problematic as if it were criminal and unnecessary, and it serves no function for people. In addition, Adolf stated that: “The turnover of ornaments leads to a premature devaluation of the product of labour. The worker’s time, the material used, are wasted capital.” [P. 91] Ornaments are referred to as a waste of money and resources, since ornaments are designed according to fashion, and fashion is a temporary trend that can be replaced at any time. Moreover, he believes ornament is responsible for dividing classes into hierarchy levels. A difference in value between the ornamented object and the plain object means that the ornamented one would be nothing more than a waste of time and resources. Loos also claims that cheap workmanship is sold in the market and will eventually cause the ornamentation to fade.
As a conclusion, he stated that: “the evolution of culture comes to the same thing as the removal of ornament from functional objects” [P. 88]. Modernity is a fundamental aspect of the present and the future while ornament is unnecessary. Adolf believed that living a simpler and less ornamented life will eventually bring more time, money and evolution towards a better taste of fashion and art. “Let the form of an object last for as long, that is, let it be bearable to us, for as long as the object lasts.” [P. 91]
