VILLAS BY HEINRICH KULKA: 1930-1939

This talk analysed a selection of houses built by Heinrich Kulka between 1930 and 1939 that were influenced by the spatial design that Kulka termed 'Raumplan'. The exterior organisation, the dynamically-shifted planes of the Raumplan, where each room has its own proportion in accordance with its purpose, is characteristic of the work of both architects. The comparison between selected aspects of Loos' houses gives insights into the similarities with and advancements of Loos' designs and to ways in which both architects organised the static exterior and dynamic interior as well as staged living functions such as entering and representing. In light of Kulka's collaboration with Loos, and his ability to not only continue but also adapt and develop Loos' spatial design principles the question can be asked whether the development of the 'Raumplan' can be assigned to Loos alone and if it should not also be attributed to his pupils that collaborated with him after World War I.