Loos Ornament And Crime Analysis

The architect Adolf Loos addresses the topic of ornament and it related to crime in his article “Ornament and Crime” for the aristocrats of the nation. Loos lays outs several reason why ornament is a crime to humanity and the economy to call for change.
How Loos first addresses ornament is interesting with evolution of mankind as a society. Loos compares ornament to a child where the child’s painting is erotic and the child is just release surplus urges. Loos describes this act immoral and goes on about the evolution of culture requires the removal of this ornament. He also details how ornament is a crime to the economy and humanity as add ornaments to objects cost labor, money, and materials. This excess labor is what is causes problems

as seen by Loos by not being used to create other goods and creations and not increase the standard of living. He also includes that much ornamented objects must be replaced as culture and style change. In the end, Loos calls for the aristocrats follow his ideals to improve the country. Loos’s ideas were very different and interesting.
I disagree with Loos’s ideals on ornament. Although ornament does cost more labor, it adds the visuals of the object and makes it easier to look at. If everything was purely functional as Loos describes, everything would be very hard on people’s eyes and cause similar problems. Also, I see Loos’s idea as just another style, and his would have only lasted for so long.