The Rado House on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb

The Rado House is a three-story building that was constructed in 1905 on Ban J. Jelačić Square, which is Zagreb’s main square. It was built by Dr. Eugen Rado, a dentist, and designed by Vjekoslav Alojz Bastl from the Hönigsberg and Deutsch studios. The allegorical figures on the building were crafted by the renowned sculptor Rudolf Valdec.

The house embodies the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, which means ‘total work of art’ in German. This term refers to the idea that the architect is responsible for the entire building, including its exterior appearance, interior design, and placement in the surrounding environment.

The Rado House showcases a high-quality spatial solution, a harmonious breakdown of the main facade, rich facade plastic, and attractive stylistic details in locksmithing, carpentry, ceramic floor coverings, ceiling stucco, and clay stoves.

The concept of Gesamtkunstwerk was developed by German writer and philosopher K. F. E. Trahndorff in his 1827 essay ‘Aesthetics, or Doctrine of Worldview and Art’. It became particularly associated with the aesthetic ideals of the German opera composer Richard Wagner.

The concept has been used by many famous architects, including Victor Horta and Henry Van de Velde from Belgium, Antoni Gaudí from Catalonia, Hector Guimard from France, and Josef Hoffmann from Austria, who was among the founders of the Viennese Secession and co-founded the Wiener Werkstätte – Vienna Workshop.