Josef Frank
Forgotten Masters
Monday 4 May 2020 6.30 - 8pm
The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£15, £9
In association with
Hear more about the work of Austrian architect Josef Frank and find out how he changed the way we view Modernist design today.
This conversation will bring together an architect and an historian to reflect on the work of Austrian architect Josef Frank and his very distinct approach to Modernism.
Born and educated in Vienna, Josef Frank was one of the key proponents of the Modern Movement in Austria before emigrating to Sweden before the Second World War. Although Frank is best known for his vivid textile designs created for Swedish firm Svenskt Tenn, his architectural work deserves equal consideration.
Clearly inspired by the work of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, Frank questioned the pragmatism that had become so inherent to Modernism as practiced by the likes of Le Corbusier. Instead, his emphasis on comfort and individual personality could be viewed as something that makes the core principles of the movement more accessible to the masses.
In the course of this event, you will hear more about Frank’s architecture and interiors (both realised and fictional) and find out how his philosophy that “a house should reflect its owner and not vice versa” changed the face of Modernist design.
Organised in association with Docomomo UK.