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The house has to please everyone, contrary to the work of art which does not. The work is a private matter for the artist. The house is not.
Adolf Loos
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote distinguishes between the communal nature of architecture and the personal nature of art, suggesting that a house must accommodate public taste while a work of art is an expression of the artist's individuality.

Adolf Loos emphasizes the difference between architecture and art by highlighting that a house must cater to the preferences and comfort of its inhabitants or the public, whereas a piece of art is a personal expression that reflects the unique vision and feelings of the artist. This contrast suggests that while architecture is a functional space meant for communal use, art serves a more subjective and individualistic purpose.

Themes

ArchitectureArtPublic TasteIndividualityDesign

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about architectural designs that balance aesthetics and functionality, this quote could illustrate the challenges architects face.

More from Adolf Loos

Be truthful. Nature only sides with truth.
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The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.
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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.
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Architecture arouses sentiments in man. The architect's task therefore, is to make those sentiments more precise.
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Quote by Adolf Loos | QuoteProject