Abstract
This thesis is a paper comparing Adolf Loos and Antoni Gaudí's 'theory of ornament', based on their text. Adolf Loos and Antoni Gaudí are architects who had worked from late 19c, just before advent of Modernism architecture, to early 20c. When 'ornament' had started to be excluded from architecture according to development of industrialization and capitalism, Loos and Gaudí have both written about 'ornament.' Generally, Loos is known to have possessed rational mind and designed modern building with no ornament, and Gaudí is known to have possessed romantic mind and used splendid ornaments. For those reasons, it was assumed that two architects would have contrast opinions regarding ornaments. However, analysis of two architects' major text reveals that their theories of ornament are fundamentally analogous. Loos and Gaudí both argue dissolution of past normative 'ornament' and claims that rational 'ornament' that fits modern time is possible. Interestingly, intentionally adopted ornaments exist considerably in architecture of Loos. On the other hand, in Gaudí's architecture, there are many points where Gaudí had restrained ornaments. This thesis organizes similarity and differences of two architects' 'theory of ornament' through their texts and works. Moreover, this thesis suggests that then today's architecture aims to restart a debate on 'ornament', it is worth reviewing texts of Loos and Gaudí.