The Loos-Interieurs Pilsen

The Loos-Interieurs are eight furnished apartments, which were designed by the architect Adolf Loos in the 1930s. On a narrated tour you can visit these interieurs that were formerly established for investors of the Jewish community in Pilsen. Every single of the eight arrangements has its own story, often closely intertwined with the time during the Second World War as well as with the communist regime afterwards.

The Loos-Interieurs are, especially architecturally, invaluable. Adolf Loos' architecture was extremely modern as well as contemporary for its time, and is world-famous today. Typical for his interieurs are the use of natural, high-quality materials. In addition, Loos placed great value on utilizing rooms to the best of their capability – which explains why you can recurringly find built-in cupboards and other practical storage possibilities, nontypical for his time.

The apartment of Richard Hirsch:

The first people who had their apartments furnished by Loos were Martha and Wilhelm Hirsch. Already in 1907 he had made suggestions for their apartment in Plachého Street 6. The same building housed the apartment of their son Richard. This was also furnished by Loos, in 1927.

The apartment of Vilém and Gertruda Kraus:

Among the most beautiful interieurs in Pilsen is the apartment in Bendova Street 10, once the property of Vilém and Gertruda Kraus. Loos planned the interieur of this apartment around 1930. Especially valuable are the dining room and saloon. The rooms are tiled with green Cipollino-marble and the ceiling with mahogany tiles.

While Vilém was able to leave to England in time, his wife Gertruda and their children died in a concentration camp of the NS-Regime.

The apartment of medic Josef Vogl:

Josef Vogl lived in Klatovsk√° Street 12, a house which became property of the German administration during the Nazi regime. The medic had his own practice in the house, designed by Loos. Remaining today are only two rooms: the saloon and the dining room.

The apartment of Hugo Semler:

The entrepreneur Hugo Semler, who had his apartment in Klatovsk√° Street 19, also had it furnished by Adolf Loos. What remains today are the dining room and saloon, as well as a small music saloon. During the Second World War, the facility was used as an office by Majewski, military commandant of the city Pilsen, who, after the capitulation in May 1945, shot himself in this room.

The architect Adolf Loos lived and worked in Pilsen from 1907 until 1910 and from 1927 until 1932. His clients were mainly Jewish entrepreneur families, who had settled in Klatovsk√°-Tilda-Street. At the beginning of the Second World War, many of these families were forced to leave their apartments, which were subsequently devastated by their new tenants. The interieurs could be reconstructed only a few years ago. Some of them, though, are still closed to the public.

By car:

The Loos-Interieurs are located near Klatovská Street. Coming from Germany, follow the Czech motorway D5 until the exit 89. Then take the route 26. After about four kilometers you will get to a roundabout traffic, which you leave at the second exit. After a further two kilometers, turn left to Borská and shortly after turn right to Chelcického. Then again turn left to nam. Ceskych bratrí and again right to Mánesova. You will now find yourself on Klatovská Street.