Founded in 1903 by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Fritz Waemdorfer, the Wiener Werkstätte ("Vienna Workshop") was a collective of architects and craftsmen which aimed at fusing architecture and interior design into a Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art. Experimenting with various materials (gold, precious stones, and papier mâché, for example), the artists of the Wiener Werkstätte created buildings and objects which combined classical elegance with streamlined functionality. Though the workshop lasted only thirty years, its influence is still strong today.

"Another stroke of genius by TASCHEN, a gloriously illustrated in-depth account of the 'total work of art' and the most important achievements of that creative endeavor." design report, Stuttgart

About the author:
Gabriele Fahr-Becker studied art history, archaeology, and philosophy, and gained her doctorate from Munich University in 1970 with a thesis on Art Nouveau. She has published numerous books on turn-of-the-century art.