Josef Frank - Against Design: The Architect's Anti-Formalist Oeuvre / Das Anti-Formalistische Werk D

Bilingual Edition (English / German):

A trailblazer of modern architecture

With Josef Frank (1885-1967), the catalogue for
the exhibition in the MAK, Vienna, focuses on one of the most important
Austrian architects of the 20^th century. In addition to his
groundbreaking architectural oeuvre, the discussion considers Frank as
an extremely productive designer who, although sceptical and a prominent
cultural critic, must be thanked for his many important stimuli to
international design that are still valid today. As an architect and
designer who is still "contemporary" to this day, Frank was known for
his pragmatic design approach, and pleaded for "normal" - but not at all
normative - architecture and design. For Frank, the qualities of social
experience were more important than formal aspects; his interiors and
utilitarian articles were primarily intended to serve the comfort of the
user. Josef Frank's ideas of an uncontrived and unpretentious
utilitarian expedience, which was focused on an independent, free,
enlightened housing and living culture beyond all stylistic dogmas and
fashionable conventions, is more topical today than ever.

Mit
Josef Frank (1885-1967) widmet sich der Katalog zur Ausstellung im MAK,
Wien, einem der bedeutendsten österreichischen Architekten des 20.
Jahrhunderts. Neben dem wegweisenden architektonischen Werk geht es
dabei insbesondere um einen Gestalter, dem das internationale Design bis
heute wichtige Impulse verdankt. Gerade derzeit erscheinen Franks
Vorstellungen einer aufgeklärt bürgerlichen Wohn- und Lebenskultur
aktueller denn je.