Looshaus, Office building in Michaelerplatz, Austria
The Looshaus is an office and residential building located on Michaelerplatz in Vienna. Its lower floors feature retail spaces with distinctive oval display windows, while upper levels contain offices and apartments designed for work and living.
Completed in 1912, the building caused significant controversy for its stark contrast with the ornate structures surrounding it. This conflict highlighted the broader shift happening in architectural thinking at the time.
The building represents a turning point when architects began rejecting ornament in favor of simple, functional design. Visitors can see how this new approach influenced the way modern buildings look and feel.
The building sits prominently on the square facing the imperial palace, making it easy to locate and observe from street level. You can view and photograph the exterior comfortably without needing to enter or make special arrangements.
Court records show that the emperor ordered curtains to be kept permanently closed on palace windows facing this building. This unusual decree reveals how deeply the imperial establishment opposed the building's plain appearance.
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