Looshaus

thumb|The Looshaus from Michaelerplatz thumb|Colonnade and mezzanine bay windows thumb|Main staircase: skylight of painted glass tiles and mirrors thumb|Mezzanine The Looshaus (also known as the Goldman & Salatsch Building) is a commercial and residential building at Michaelerplatz 3, between Herrengasse and Kohlmarkt, in Vienna. Designed by Adolf Loos and completed in 1912, it is considered a major building of Viennese Modernism.

== Building == The modernist design of the Looshaus contrasts with both historicism and the floral ornament of Secessionist architecture. Although functionalist, it is far from purely utilitarian. In particular, it makes use of sumptuous materials. The lower, commercial section of the façade is clad in green Cipollino marble from Euboea, in striking contrast with the simple plaster of the upper, residential section. A colonnade of Tuscan columns was intended to allude to the portico of the St. Michael's Church on the same square. The upper storeys are unornamented except for window boxes; according to legend, these were intended to allude to the Hofburg by resembling the Archducal hat in form; the Looshaus is opposite its north façade (Michaelertrakt).