Together with Josef Frank he was instrumental in creating the distinctive character of the Wiener Schule der Architektur ("Vienna School of Architecture").

He stood for a modern concept of "living" for all people, planned and built private dwelling-houses, designed furniture, created ceramics and watercolours and designed sets and props for stage plays and films.

[1] From 1909 to 1935 he was a professor in the Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule ("School of Applied Arts in Vienna") along with Josef Hoffmann.

Among his other pupils were the later film architects and set designers Artur Berger and Harry Horner.

He also designed interiors for the lavish masterpieces of the "Wiener Film" such as Maskerade (1934) and Episode (1935).