Josef Frank who immigrated in 1933 to Sweden, was certainly one of the most interesting Austrian architects and Designers in the period between the two wars. The MAK is currently presenting an exhibition and soon Svenst Tenn will show some of his designs in a gallery in Vienna's third district.
Frank left behind a huge oeuvre that elegantly escapes the traditional categories of modernism. His cloth designs are so colorful and his unconventional furniture and architecture designs seem to belong to an almost child-like-creativity, yet behind these concepts we find the intellectual thinker Josef Frank who was deeply rooted in the classical building tradition as his dissertation focused on the sacral buildings of Andrea Palladio.
In this seminar we want to take a close look at his writings and his designs.
We want to discuss the essays and designs by Josef Frank and explore some of his concepts in a written seminar paper. The whole group will participate in designing a booklet or small publication about Frank's oeuvre.
The seminar will be held in German and English, as some of the literature is only available in english. It consists of two parts: a.) the discussion of relevant literature and designs and b.) preparation of the seminar paper.
1st meeting: Monday, March 7, 2016, 12:00 At the Seminarraum Architekturtheorie
Intro term paper: Monday, April 18, 14.00-15.00 /Seminarraum Architekturtheorie
Each student will prepare a written seminar report on one of Josef Frank¿s key buildings or spaces.
A comprehensive sign-up list will be provided. Each student will select a particular building or space.
Students are expected in their papers to do the following:
First: discuss the history and construction of the building, paying close attention to the context of the time.
Second: provide an in-depth analysis of the building or space in question.
Third: Discuss what ideas or lessons might be drawn from the building or space, especially as they relate to present-day architecture and architectural issues.
A reader and a list of literature will be made available during the course.
