Architecture History Pt III
Mies Van Der Rohe -Most Known for his careful detailing of glass and steel -liked to work with a limited palate of shapes -He worked very orthogonal -placed a premium on craftsmanship & proportions -He liked to introduce luxurious or exotic materials & used them as focal points. -He liked to use onyx, teak, travertine (a deeply veined marble) and granite
"Less is more" -He was the last Dean of the Bauhaus before it shut down -He was offered a deanship at ITT Tec in Chicago
the trends in Modernism circa 1960s were
-Skyscrapers were used by corporations as Iconic-like figures; the identity of the company. they were primarily made of glass and Steel combinations -Suburbanization -Urban Renewal in Cities -Increased exploration of plastic forms and expressionism
Expressionistic
-making one impression on the outside and totally different one on the inside
Second Generation Modernists--They worked for and were trained by High Modernist which were Post WWII Architects>>Eames, Neutra, Kahn -They fall into three categories>>>
-minimalists, Permanence & solidity,and there was expressionists
Minimalist >>>in 2nd generation Modernists
-they were Glass & steel guys influenced by Mies van der Rohe. They emphasized transparency & a lightweight design
Beaux Arts Ball
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1850-1910
Early Modern Architecture
California Case Study Houses
It was a development sponsored by the magazine Arts & Architecture -It was a demonstration of modern designs for modern living similar to that of Weissenhofsiedlung--Stuttgart, Germany -THe California climate afforded design opportunities for both interior and exterior spaces -It was a promotional idea
Post WW II the Interstate Highway Act was initiated and the result was suburbanization---where towns and cities were born around the off and on ramps of these major highways
It was a plan to build up the highways and major roads and make them a capable and accessible corridor for our military to move freely throughout the country when needed
1949 US Housing Act spawned the result--Urban Renewal which was a slum clearance program
It was designed to make sure every American had a decent modern place to live -They were supposed to tear down sub-standard housing and build new housing but that didn't happen -Instead the corporations swooped in and built large commercial structures
Examples of Plasticity and Expressionism in the 1950s and early 1960s
Ronchamp, TWA Terminal, Sydney Opera House, Guggenheim Museum
had specified rules for behavior to ensure the hegemony of architecture prospered
Some Institutions like schools, government, churches and corporations
1850
Technology developments, Industrialization & urbanization this led to modernization
The big institustions
They are the driving forces of who is paying for the new architecture projects >> churches are no longer the sole financiers
Expressionists>>>>> in 2nd generation Modernists
They emphasized form as a reminder or a symbol or as an iconic figure --ex. Chrysler bldg., Ronchamp, Empire State bldg.
economy of scale
each piece cost less when alot of units are made. the larger scale jobs can buy in bulk and the individual pieces are priced lower
Alvar AAlto's modernist views
focused mainly on compositions with planes, transparencies and no derivative decoration. It had a strong emphasis on modern functions.
Hegemony of Modernism 1960s
the dominance or leadership of Modernism over other forms of architecture by and large, it was an unquestioned belief in present society so the derivative style of architecture is out of the picture. Therefore institutions promoted, supported, and "forced" modern design
Permanence & Solidity>>>> in 2nd generation Modernists
they emphasized concrete and protection