The Journal of
the Korean Institute of Interior Design

The Journal of
the Korean Institute of Interior Design

Bimonthly
  • ISSN : 1229-7992(Print)
  • ISSN : 2733-6832(Online)
  • KCI Accredited Journal

Editorial Office

  • Tel. +82-2-564-2598
  • Fax. +82-2-564-2599
  • E-mail. kiid@kiid.or.kr
Title A Study on the generative background and Characteristics of Gesamtkunstwerk Design Theory advocated by Wiener Werkstatte and Josef Hoffmann
Authors 김홍기(Kim, Hong-Ki)
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.14774/JKIID.2016.25.1.115
Page pp.115-123
ISSN 1229-7992
Keywords Gesamtkunstwerk ; Josef Hoffmann ; Wiener Werkstatte ; Wien Secession ; Koloman Moser
Abstract In the turn of the twentieth century, Vienna emerged as a great cultural centre that stood at the forefront of developments in music, psychology, and the natural sciences. Equally influential, and still tremendously popular today, are the designs of the Wiener Werkstatte a group that was at the heart of the city’s cultural scene and whose collaborators included such luminaries as the architect Josef Hoffman and the designer Koloman Moser under the slogan of Gesamtkunstwerk. The term "Gesamtkunstwerk" was introduced in the romantic period. It describes the desire for and practice of combining various art forms into a whole, such as performances that combine text, visual arts, various design and architecture. Richard Wagner was one of the early theorists of the concept, inspiring many modernist artists. As a co-founder of the Wiener Werkstatte, Josef Hoffmann had a decisive influence on modern Viennese architecture and Interior design on the basis of the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk. In this view point, this study is to analyze about the generative background and design characteristics of gesamtkunstwerk advocated Wiener Werkstatte. Josef Hoffmann was by all accounts a very successful architect and Interior designer in Vienna. His influence would undoubtedly have been felt simply because of his talent and energy. His special ability to range across multiple domains, coupled with a willingness to collaborate with other artists has created a synthesis and synergy that is compelling to this day.