Vienna stairs Jože Plečnik, Part 2. As much as the Zacherl House expresses the promise of modernism to come—from site strategy, structure, treatment of the façade, and ornamentation (previous blog)—I want to also celebrate the entrance sequence which, for me, makes this building so memorable. Perhaps this is because much research on the Zacherl House fails to go in depth regarding the staircase and because I find this particular space so beautifully orchestrated. 

Vienna: a lesson in stairs (Joze Plecnik), Part 1. Each time I visit Vienna, the capital of the former Austro-Hungarian empire, it exhorts in me a mysterious feeling. First because I keep such fond childhood memories from there, and second because, as an architect, I have great sympathy for the city’s opulence in all matters of the fine arts and design. As a society, we have come to admire the magnificent artifacts that were created over the centuries, but those that retain my attention are from the turn of the 19th century, a period which reflected a new and rich artistic era when the city moved from eclecticism to modern functionalism. 

Lexington: a lesson in stairs (Jose Oubrerie). If you are unfamiliar with the Miller House designed by José Oubrerie, let me introduce you to this magnificent work of art through the lens of a particular element, namely a stair that is both architecture and an elaborate piece of furniture.