The narrow marble portal opens into a small shop, with a winding staircase leading up to the spacious upper floor. The elegantly wood-panelled interior styled with Loos’ typical precision perfectly epitomises the atmosphere of British Belle Epoque gentlemen’s outfitters. In 1993, the premises were enlarged by Paolo Piva to include the neighbouring shop.

• Bauzeit: 1910-1913
• PlanerIn: Adolf Loos
• Client: Knize
• Building type: Commercial
• Reachability: U1/U3 Stephansplatz
• Accessibility: During business hours
• The American Bar (1908) designed by Adolf Loos presents a unique spatial concept that enlarges the tiny premises with amazing mirror effects.
• Foto: Rupert Christanell

Once denigrated as the "house without eyebrows" despite its sumptuous ground-floor zone adorned by a variety of high-quality materials, this former store of the exclusive tailors Goldmann & Salatsch has over the decades become the destination of many an architectural pilgrimage. Situated right opposite the splendidly ornamented ensemble of Vienna’s Imperial Palace complex, Adolf Loos’ simple, uncluttered masterpiece proved a massive shock to early-20th-century public sensibilities.

• Bauzeit: 1909-1911
• PlanerIn: Adolf Loos
• Client: Leopold Goldman, Emanuel Aufricht
• Building type: Mixed use
• Reachability: U1/3 Stephansplatz, U3 Herrengasse
• Accessibility: Ground floor during banking hours
• Foto: Rupert Christanell