Blog Six - The Emergence of Modernism

 The Emergence of Modernism

The Emergence of Modernism lasted from around 1900 to 1950. After World War I, the world had a chance to redesign itself. There was a rejection of the past and embracing of the new industrial style. There were technological advances such as skyscrapers, automobiles, trains, photography, and movie pictures. The Art Nouveau and Prairie styles contributed to the Modernism movement. The Emergence of Modernism used clarity and force to achieve their movement. The main architects of this movement included Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier. They were thought of as the originators of the “modern movement”.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was the first major modern architect. He was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He studied at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He is a well-known American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator. He started his own practice in 1893 in Illinois. Throughout his career he designed over 1,000 structures and completed over 532 structures. He created an “architecture of democracy” and unity in planning, materials, structure, and site. He considered organic architecture an effect on man and the environment.

The International Style

The International Style is a major architectural style that emerged int he 1920s. This style consisted of mainly modern concepts but included specific characteristics from across the world. The main three principles of the design were: the expression of volume rather than mass, the emphasis on balance rather than preconceived symmetry, and the expulsion of applied ornament. The book The International Style was written to record the International Exhibition of Modern Architecture. The main characteristics of the International Style include: radical simplification of form, rejection of ornamentation, transparency of buildings, and acceptance of industrialized mass-production techniques. They also adopted glass, steel and concrete as preferred materials. 

Mies van der Rohe

Mies van der Rohe was a German-American architect. He did not have a formal education of an architect but was the son of a tradesman and an architectural apprentice to Peter Behrens. He sought to establish a unique design style for the modern era. He valued simplicity and clarity in his designs. He called his structures “skin and bones” architecture. He believed that less was more and that God was in the details. He mainly created interiors with steel and plate glass. He created overlaps to blend the exterior with the interior. He also valued luxurious materials such as wood and marble. His chairs were created using tubular metal. He focused on detail and used rich materials for decoration. His interiors were open and each space flowed into the next. 

Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier was a French architect who also had no formal training in architecture. He also worked for Peter Behrens as well as Josef Hoffmann. He was most known for urban design but also respected historic design. His goal was to improve the industrialized cities such as Paris. He had a philosophy about modern furniture which included 3 main points: it should strive to be a “standard unit”, it should act as an artificial limb, and it should make use of modern technology. Le Corbusier created functional spaces and believed that decor was not necessary but art was. He used concrete and modern materials as well as modular storage pieces. He also used mass production as a method of construction. 

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Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. He was born on February 3, 1898 and passed away on May 11, 1976. Although he was very accomplished in many forms of art, he never considered himself an artist. He claimed that painting and sculpting were “branches of the tree whose trunk was architecture”. His work included architecture, furniture, textiles, and glassware, as well as paintings and sculptures. He studied at Helsinki University of Technology. He was second-tier of the pioneer modernists. He is known for using modern materials and made novel use of wood in his designs. He was also very well-known for his modern furniture designs.