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20th Century Architecture - Brief Description



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Modern Architecture or Modernism was a product of the mid-20th century.

Famously coined as the International Style by Reyner Banham, the Modern style was linked notably with Le Corbusier and central European and generally western architecture.

Modernist Architecture eventually made its way to the Developing World and also to colder climates in the North where the white concrete didn't always weather so well.

The Modern movement - also referred to controversially as a 'style' by some - bound morality, technology and art together.

Morality in that there was an aim to improve humanity's lot, notably whole scale demolition of slums to make way for clean modern housing. This was called comprehensive redevelopment and in the UK one of the most notorious examples is Glasgow: slums were cleared but so were communities. The modern city was strangled by a motorway that divided residential areas and mostly lower social classes were transferred to huge developments on the edge of town or beyond.

Modern Technology was invoked with the admiration for emerging development of planes, cars, ships and trains. Modern Architecture was to evoke streamlined looks and some physical technology from these transport types. Famously the Le Corbusier - one of the most famous Modern architects - in 'Vers une Architecture' lauded the world of transport for having the courage to use new techology whilst architecture had become lost in the world of style, of mannerism and above all, tradition.

Celebated Modern Architecture - Barcelona Pavilion
Modern Architecture
photograph © Adrian Welch

Art because ultimately Modern Architecture was based on stylistic devices that not always totally integrated into the above two aspects. Le Corbusier defined five points, such as fenetre longeur and point columns: essentially the drive was towards clean lines with a sense of lightness. A typical example would be a villa by Le Corbusier - white concrete, large areas of glass, floating mass / cantilevers and lack of ornamentation. But there were other Modernist Architects who did not use much white-rendered or painted concrete and even Le Corbusier was later to leave this light functionalist style for a more expressive architecture.

Jean Prouvé, pioneering modern architect:
Jean Prouve
photo : The Prouvé family © VG Bildkunst, Bonn

Modern Architecture was associated with some great architects and some powerful countries and companies. Modernism became the equivalent of the Classical Style in the Georgian period, ie the establishment architecture, the status quo.

Modern Architects

The key Modern Architects are generally accepted as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright though clearly many will suggest others, such as Walter Gropius. Many Modern Architects had to flee Germany around the time of World War II, leaving for the USA or UK. The Scandinavian school of Modern Architects were known for a softer approach, more integrated into regional traditions, for example Jacobsen, Aaalto, Häring and Asplund.

Celebated Modern Architecture - Guggenheim Museum New York
Guggenheim Museum New York
photo : David M. Heald, © SRGF, New York

Modern Architects that took a strong polemical line include Loos, Kahn and Mies Van der Rohe. Loos was famous for his doctrine of 'Ornament is Crime' and Mies for 'Less is More' - a puritanical, rectilinear architectural style. American architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase "Form ever follows function" and later architects such as Le Corbusier committed their work to this 'form follows function' approach, thus cutting out much poetry and wit from designing buildings. Post-Modernism was in many ways a reaction to this overly rigid stylistic concept which resulted in buildings by Philip Johnson and Jim Stirling that actively encouraged humour.

Bruce Graham, celebrated Modern architect:
Bruce Graham
picture : SOM / Stuart Rodgers Photography

Since the seventies architecture styles have become more fractured and we have - amongst what could be termed contemporary architects - post-modernists, neo-modernists, deconstructivists, contextualists, expressionists and so on. Contemporary Architects suggests a position that is anti-vernacular, comfortable with new materials and non-local materials & forms, using architectural language that is not generally steeped in past typographies or traditions. There are not many architects today who would describe themselves as Modern Architects (a handful are labelled neo Modern) but it would be interesting to hear from any that do.

Contemporary Architects

Modern Architecture
Sanatorium Zonnestraal Hilversum
photograph : Wessel de Jonge

20th Century Architect

Perhaps the most celebrated Modern architect was Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier building
building image © Karavan

Also Alvar Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Gropius

Modern Architects photos

Modern Architects - Links

Alvar Aalto
Gunnar Asplund
Luis Barragan
Marcel Breuer
Pierre Chareau
Charles and Ray Eames
Wells Coates
Joseph Emberton
Max Fry
Ernö Goldfinger
Walter Gropius
Hugo Häring
Herman Hertzberger
Howard, Killick, Partridge & Amis
Arne Jacobsen
Philip Johnson
Louis Kahn
Denys Lasdun
John Lautner
Sigurd Lewerentz
Adolf Loos
Berthold Lubetkin
Robert Mallet-Stevens
Robert Matthew
Pier Luigi Nervi
Richard Neutra
Eero Saarinen
Hans Scharoun
Rudolf Schindler
James Stirling
Jorn Utzon
Mies Van der Rohe
Aldo van Eyck
Frank Lloyd Wright

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Full List of our featured Modern Architects

World Architects - Selection by City

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Modern Homes
Modern Home
picture © Nick Weall

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Modern Architects - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

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