Studio: international art (40.1907)

F. von Krauss, Architect

winds a drive about 300 yards long to the
main entrance. At the gates there is a porter’s
lodge, behind which the stables are to be built.
The main front faces the mountains, the view
being a glorious one from all sides of the villa.
The chief entrance opens on to a vestibule; to
the left of this is the man-servant’s room. From
the vestibule the hall is reached; all the living-
rooms open on to this ; and from it an oak staircase
leads to the upper part of the house. The hall
furniture is of fumigated oak; the fireplace, where
a gas-stove is fixed, is lined with blue-green tiles.
The hall is very-cosy, and has been arranged with
a view to use as a living-room. The morning room,
or parlour, is long and narrow. The decorations are
green in grey. The wall-paper is grey, the furniture
is of hazel-wood upholstered in grey velvet. The
tones of the dining-room are blue-green, and the furni-
ture of oak, the seats being upholstered in dark green
leather. This room opens on to a terrace. The
villa is provided with a central heating apparatus
and gas fireplaces. The servants are happy not
only in having very comfortable quarters, but also
in having a terrace where, unseen and unheard, they
may enjoy the cool winds which blow across from
the mountains. A sepa-
rate staircase leads to
their upstairs rooms. The
exterior of the Villa YVeiss
is very pleasing. The
socle is of dark green
granite, which forms a
happy contrast to the dark
red bricks and grooves
painted white. The spaces
between the brick parts
are covered with rough-
cast. The gables and
chimneys are of sand-
stone, and the roof of
slate. All the woodwork
is painted in Dutch white
enamel, so that it is very
durable.

As will be seen from
the accompanying illustra-
tions, Baron Krauss’s de-
signs, both structural and
decorative, are marked
by good taste and judg-
ment. Not only has he
a true faculty for con-
struction, but in every-
thing, down even to the

3°2

minutest detail, he is a most thorough and con-
scientious worker.

Baron Krauss began his career as a student
at the Vienna Polytechnic, and after a four years’
course there, followed by the usual examination,
which he passed satisfactorily, he entered the
Imperial Academy, where the celebrated Friedrich
Schmidt was his master. Schmidt, who died
about ten years ago, was a great admirer of
the Gothic style — the Rathhaus and other
important buildings in Vienna were erected from
his designs. Krauss, however, was not in-
fluenced in this direction — and to Schmidt’s
credit it must be said that, strong as were
his own leanings towards Gothicism, he was
one of those who preferred to allow the
talents of his pupils to develop untrammelled
and naturally. Though a member of the
Kiinstlergenossenschaft, Krauss early saw the
futility of continuing in the traditional ways 01
the society, and he has consistently held aloof
from excesses in the opposite direction. It
is in his good taste and moderation, coupled
with excellent workmanship, that his strength
lies. A. S. L.

LIVING-ROOM

DESIGNED BY F. VON KRAUSS