<pioneer of modern architecture Loos has a memorial in his hometown Brno</p>

Brno - The pioneer of modern architecture, Adolf Loos, has a new monument in his native Brno. Today's ceremonial unveiling, conceived as a theatrical happening, was attended by dozens of people. The monument is connected in its concept to Loos's tombstone in the Vienna cemetery, which takes the form of a simple cuboid. The Brno monument is, in fact, a dispersed concrete sculpture, a negative or imprint of the tombstone.

Loos was born 150 years ago. His family lived in a house that stood where the current Continental hotel is located. The monument can be found within view of the hotel, in the park at Janáčkovo náměstí.

The authors of the monument are Oldřich Morys and Jaroslav Sedlák. The jury selected their work for its strong idea connecting Brno with Vienna as the places of the architect's birth and final resting place. The work also recalls Loos's unique approach to living space, known as Raumplan. The concrete form is divided into four modules, which can even be sat upon.

The minimalist tombstone in Vienna, from which the final shape of the Brno monument is derived, was designed by architect Loos himself. The sketches were likely created in 1931, when his health began to decline. Loos died on August 23, 1933, in a sanatorium on the outskirts of Vienna.

The Brno-born Loos had a significant influence on European architecture and is often regarded as a leading figure of architectural purism. Among Loos's most famous projects in Czech territory are the Müller villa in Prague and the villa of Viktor Bauer in Hrušovany near Brno. Until the end of the year, people can visit a profile exhibition at Špilberk castle titled "European Adolf Loos - Not Just Brno's Traces."

Brno has been long-term in building monuments and memorials to its significant personalities. Plans are underway for statues commemorating architect Bohuslav Fuchs and the founder of genetics Gregor Johann Mendel, announced Brno's councilor for culture Marek Fišer (Pirates) today.