Architecture Quote by Adolf Loos
“Does it follow that the house has nothing in common with art and is architecture not to be included in the arts? Only a very small part of architecture belongs to art: the tomb and the monument. Everything else that fulfils a function is to be excluded from the domain of art.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Ornament and Crime, 1908
Architecture serves functional needs; only decorative monuments qualify as art.
In simple terms: Only decorative structures are art.
Key Takeaway
Recognize function vs. ornament.
Themes
function
art
architecture
design
culture
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- building design
- public monuments
- interior decoration
Key Concepts
aesthetics
utility
modernism
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines art in everyday objects?
- Can utility be beautiful?
A Different Perspective
Functional works can still be aesthetically valuable.
