Josef Frank – Against Design: The Architect's Anti-Formalist Oeuvre / Das anti-formalistische Werk des Architekten

Bilingual Edition (English / German):

A trailblazer of modern architecture

With Josef Frank (1885-1967), the catalogue forthe exhibition in the MAK, Vienna, focuses on one of the most importantAustrian architects of the 20th century. In addition to hisgroundbreaking architectural oeuvre, the discussion considers Frank asan extremely productive designer who, although sceptical and a prominentcultural critic, must be thanked for his many important stimuli tointernational design that are still valid today. As an architect anddesigner who is still "contemporary" to this day, Frank was known forhis pragmatic design approach, and pleaded for "normal" - but not at allnormative - architecture and design. For Frank, the qualities of socialexperience were more important than formal aspects; his interiors andutilitarian articles were primarily intended to serve the comfort of theuser. Josef Frank's ideas of an uncontrived and unpretentiousutilitarian expedience, which was focused on an independent, free,enlightened housing and living culture beyond all stylistic dogmas andfashionable conventions, is more topical today than ever.

MitJosef 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 esdabei insbesondere um einen Gestalter, dem das internationale Design bisheute wichtige Impulse verdankt. Gerade derzeit erscheinen FranksVorstellungen einer aufgeklärt bürgerlichen Wohn- und Lebenskulturaktueller denn je.