The Glas House 1933 : Visionary Architecture in Vienna and Exile

The villa of physicians Anna and Philipp Rezek, built in 1932/33 in Pötzleinsdorf, in the 18th district of the Austrian capital, is an outstanding monument of Viennese modernism of the interwar period. The residence, also known as the “Glas House”, is a quintessential example of modern architecture and the associated philosophy of living in 1930s Vienna. Yet its architect Hans Glas (1892–1960), a student of Adolf Loos, has largely fallen into oblivion. This book describes the Villa Rezek in detail, illustrated with numerous historical and newly taken photographs, plans and drawings, and documents. It also sheds light on entirely new aspects of Vienna’s architectural history of the 1930s and tells the of both the architect his clients, who were all forced to emigrate due to their Jewish origins following the unification of Austria with Nazi Germany in 1938. It also highlights the ideas and design principles of the visionary architect Hans Glas, which are more relevant today than ever.