The title of the book sets the two fields of activity pursued by the architect, architectural historian and theorist August Sarnitz - building and writing - in a reciprocal relation: the context to what has been built emerges in the process of writing, just as the context to what has been written emerges in the process of building. The structure of the book follows precisely this reciprocity: an essay about architectural history and Big Data is followed by three on the topics of urban development, social housing, and the fiction of space. A number of influential Viennese architects appear as well: Frank, Kiesler, Hollein and Prix. The topics of housing, design and furniture are all illustrated with Sarnitz's own projects; the end of the book is dedicated to architectural photography, which is especially important to Sarnitz in his capacity as publicist. The richly illustrated book is the first to document Sarnitz's work as author, designer, exhibition designer, architect and photographer.

Adolf Loos (1870-1933) was a flamboyant character whose presence in the cultural hotbed of early 1900s Vienna galvanized the country's architectural landscape. An early, impassioned advocate of modernism, he all-out rejected the grand Secessionist aesthetic prevalent at the time, as well as any hallmarks of the European fin de siecle. Instead, in lectures and essays, such as the milestone Ornament and Crime of 1908, Loos articulated his "passion for smooth and precious surfaces." He advocated that architectural ornamentation was, by its nature, ephemeral-locked into current trends and styles, and therefore quickly dated. Loos, himself a Classicist at heart, argued instead for simple, timeless designs with time-honored aesthetic and structural qualities. In this essential introduction, we explore Loos's writings, projects, and legacy, from his key concept of "spatial plan" architecture to his rejection of decorative fripperies in favor of opulent, fine-quality materials and crisp lines. Featured projects include Vienna's Cafe Museum (1899), the fashion store Knize (1913), and the controversial Loos House (1912), which Emperor Franz Joseph I would refuse to travel past, bristling with rage at its insolently minimalist aesthetic. About the series Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN's Basic Architecture series features: an introduction to the life and work of the architect the major works in chronological order information about the clients, architectural preconditions as well as construction problems and resolutions a list of all the selected works and a map indicating the locations of the best and most famous buildings approximately 120 illustrations (photographs, sketches, drafts, and plans)