A brief summary on Adolf Loos' essay Ornament and Crime
Adolf Loos, an Austrian architect, wrote the article titled Ornament and Crime in 1908. Loos makes a case against ornamentation in design and architecture in this article. In his opinion, using needless adornment is a waste of resources and an indication of cultural regression. According to Loos, decoration is a holdover from a prehistoric, tribal mindset, and civilizations have to move past it.
He claims that decoration is a "crime" against the advancement of culture and civilization, drawing a comparison between it and a criminal conduct. Loos emphasizes the value of form following function and pushes for a more utilitarian and minimalist approach to design. He contends that the overuse of adornment is not as honest or visually pleasant as simple, unadorned surfaces and materials.
Overall, Loos' article criticizes the exaggerated decorative styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and advocates for a more practical and logical approach to everyday object and architectural design.
''The supporters of ornament think my hunger for simplicity is some kind of mortification of the flesh. No, my dear Professor of Applied Arts, I am not mortifying the flesh at all. I find the gingerbread tastes better like that.'' -Adolf Loos
Loos, A. (1908), Ornament and Crime
26.12.2023