HISTORY OF MODERN ARCHITEC TURE ARNE HIDES- 17124614-MODULE:ARC4010
CONTENTS 3.What is modernism? 4.Pre-Raphaelites 5.Bauhaus furniture 6.Chandigarh 7.Chapel of Notre-dame-du-haut 8.The healthy body culture- mind map 9.The healthy body culture- poster 10.Avant Garde inspired manifesto 11.Essay plan- poster 12.Essay plan-Mind map 13.Essay plan-outcomes and conclusion practice 14.Essay plan- 5 paragraph essay 15.Essay plan-Referencing
W H AT I S M O D E R N I S M ?
If it were to be put simply, modernism can be defined as “a major twentieth-century movement in art, architecture, design, literature and even culture” however since its creation there have been many different ideas associated with the term and there doesn’t seem to be a concrete answer.
In the 1920’s, Henry- Russell Hitchcock used the term modernism to describe new architecture, along with “new tradition”; referring to older architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright and he used the phrase “new pioneers” to describe architects such as le Corbusier, who were younger.
Le Corbusier-Villa Stein de Monzie (1926)
During the wartime period was when the term modernism was used much more heavily, especially in books and magazines. It was also seen within fashion, art and architecture around this time, but not as frequently as it was referenced in literature. Modernism, at this time was seen as less of a style and more as a range of ideas and principles. It radiated a refreshing and futuristic vibe, and is described as “a utopian desire to create a better world” and had a very regenerative feel to it.
Modernism in the 1930’s became much more defined and was seen as more of an actual style, and as it became much more commercial and cosmopolitan within the American audiences, it began to lose the political and social connotations that it carried in previous years.
Pre-Raphaelites “The Pre-Raphaelites were a secret society of young artists founded in 1848” They were opposed to the royal academy’s promotion of the renaissance master Raphaelhence the name pre-Raphaelite It was founded by William Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Rossetti They wanted to treat art with maximum realism and as a serious subject
REFERENCES Raumps, L. (2010) villa stein de monzie [photograph]. Flickr Martin, A. (2016) red blue yellow [photograph]. Pixabie
anon Pre Raphaelite- art term www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/pre-raphaelite (last accessed 1.10.17)
PRE-RAPHAELITES The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of artists which was founded in 1848, they were most widely known for their opposition of the Royal academy because it only seemed to be concerned with work from the Renaissance, where as the PreRaphaelites were much more interested in the Pre-Raphaelite period (this describes the time before the Renaissance in Italy). This is because they believed that the art from the Renaissance didn’t realistically represent important themes such as the human body, they thought it to be a more idealistic take, rather than the realistic style of the painters which worked before the Renaissance. The Pre-Raphaelites were not only concerned with issues surrounding artistic style, they also disagreed with the teaching methods which the British Royal Academy used at the time. The Rote method (a way of teaching involving repetition) as they thought it had replaced the experience of learning. However that being said, the primary concern of the Pre-Raphaelites was supporting naturalism, this is because they believed that the honest and realistic study of natural forms could be used to mask the rise of industrialisation at the time. Because of their opposition to industry and machine, they glamorised the medieval period and the styles and methods in which artists in that time would use. The founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood were William Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Key points • Revive British art and make it as dynamic as artwork from the early renaissance • A realistic, not idealistic representation of nature and the human form • To express nature and true emotion within art
Sketch of St. Chads cathedral
BAUHAUS FURNITURE Walter Gropius
This is an example of a piece of Bauhaus furniture designed by Walter Gropius, he believed that all design should be functional, yet it was also important to be aesthetically pleasing and you can clearly see these two principles come together in this particular design. The geometric form is rather striking, especially when combined with the bold colour choice, but it also looks comfortable to sit on and is therefore a prime example of function and aesthetic coming together within a design
Mies Van de Rohe This is a design by Mies van de Rohe and it is a very different take on the Bauhaus style compared to Walter Gropius. The design itself is very interesting and the cantilever of the chair makes this design look much more exciting. However the comfort of the design is questionable, and I would find difficulty in sitting on here for a prolonged amount of time. Aesthetic was clearly the main focus when this was being designed.
Le Corbusier This is a chair designed by Le Corbusier, and although it is a rather simplistic design with no extravagant design features, it still fulfils a functional and aesthetic role. This looks to be the most comfortable that I have seen so far, and I really like the dramatic metal bars which are left visible on the exterior of the seat, I like that these have not been hidden away because it gives the design an interesting design feature, which sets it aside from other pieces of furniture
Chandigarh
HISTORICAL CONTEXT/ LOCATION Following the independence of India from Punjab, Le Corbusier was commissioned by the Prime minister of India to design the city of Chandigarh to form the capitol of Punjab. He designed a range of buildings for the city, most importantly the capitol complex which comprises of three buildings; The palace of legislative assembly, the secretariat and the high court. he also built other important buildings such as public offices. The total area of the city of Chandigarh is 100 acres, and as of 2016 it became a UNESCO world heritage site.
MATERIALS Most of the buildings were made out of wither concrete or brick, this not only ensured that the city was mostly uniform, but these were the materials which were most readily available at the time within
Punjab due to the financial situation at the time, a few of the original designs featured steel, but this was rejected because enough steel could not be sourced considering the enormity of the project. The concrete also provides a nice juxtaposition to the bright primary colours which are used within the buildings in the capitol complex.
FUNCTION/ CONSTRUCTION SPATIAL LAYOUT The plan for Chandigarh was originally going to include curved, exaggerated edges, but because of economical difficulties everything was made to be more right angled in order to reduce the area which the buildings took up, and therefore material and construction costs. The city was designed as a “garden city� meaning there were no high rise buildings, this was due to the social economics, and general living standards at the time.
The main function of Chandigarh was to form a capitol for, the newly independent, Punjab, the Capitol complex was designed to be a symbol of independence. There is a pool outside although it is only there to contribute to the overall aesthetic of the building, the rainwater trough above the pool, acts as a sun block and a method of ventilation, which is important when considering the climate of the location.
Chapel of Notre-Dame-Du-Haut It is surrounded by many different towns and villages, and because of this the chapel receives visitors from many different locations such as Champagney, Magny Danigon, Clairgoutte and Malbouhans.
SPATIAL LAYOUTS
HISTORY The original chapel was burnt down in a fire in 1913 and was rebuilt in the year 1926, however due to world war two, the chapel was bombed and was therefore destroyed again. In 1949 Le Corbusier was asked to design the new chapel, however he was reluctant because he had already been asked to design the “Basilia of Sainte Bauma” in the south of France, but his designs were tuned away by the catholic authorities. The chapel was built in 1954, the building is said to be inspired by some of his own work, including drawings and wooden sculptures, however the biggest inspiration was shells and boats.
LOCATION The chapel is located on the Eastern side of France, in the Bourgogne-FrancheComté region. It is built on an old pilgrimage site on the hill of Bourlemont and is surrounded by greenery and nature.
FUNCTION The primary function of the chapel is to be a place of worship and prayer and it can fit up to 200 people within the building, however there is an outdoor altar, which, if the weather permits, can hold over a thousand worshippers. Le Corbusier wanted it to be a meditative and reflective space and used unique lighting techniques to help bring out the emotions of visitors and other expressive qualities.
The unusual shape of the building is utilised within the interior, and this allows for multiple sections within the chapel to be cut off from each other, for example the curved wall at the end of the building holds two different chapels which are separated nicely from the rest of the space. However there are lots of private rooms including a much smaller and more secluded chapel and a sacristy and the walls which make these spaces up are not part of the exterior walls, unlike the Southside and east side chapels.
The Healthy Body Culture- Mind map
The Healthy Body Culture- Poster
MANIFESTO Architecture should respond to the current economic and political state of the location in which is it being designed for, and should consider and respect any possible social and economical difficulties in order to avoid over budgeting and cutting corners Architecture should put safety at the forefront of its design, aesthetic, whilst important, should come later. A building cannot function properly if it puts the users at risk In order for a building to perform to its best ability, no corners should be cut during the designing, building or finishing stages. This leads t poor safety and is generally bad practice. Architecture should put the user first, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be mindful of the location and the people who live and work around it
Design manifesto The main focus behind this manifesto is trying to respond to the politics and economics of different countries and how architecture should respond to that. One of the main points of inspiration was the incident at Grenfell Tower, and because of this I made safety and a thorough and thought out design process a big deal within the manifesto.
E S S AY P L A N Postmodernism is one of the more challenging and controversial movements in Architecture in contemporary history. Describe its key features and identify the factors within Modernism that led to its emergence. Identify at least one key building which personifies Postmodernism’s key features, describe the context within which this building has been designed.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCE KEY THEMESOrigins of Postmodernism Key themes and ideas Iconic buildings- good and bad
PARAGRAPH 1
PARAGRAPH 2
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• Discuss first case study of iconic postmodern architecture • How have the ideas and aesthetics of postmodernity been used • What did the critics have to say about it • Discuss second case study of iconic postmodern architecture • How have the ideas and aesthetics of postmodernity been used • What did the critics have to say about it
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Discuss the origins of postmodernity in architecture How did the downfall of modernism help postmodernity flourish Key architects within the movement Key themes and ideas
PARAGRAPH 3 • Discuss first case study of controversial postmodern architecture • How have the ideas and aesthetics of postmodernity been used badly • What did the critics have to say about it • Discuss second case study of controversial postmodern architecture • How have the ideas and aesthetics of postmodernity been used badly • What did the critics have to say about it
CONCLUSION TIE ALL OF THEINFORMATION TOGETHER Compare the techniques used in the good and bad architecture Sum up the key ideas and themes
ESSAY PLAN - Mindmap
POSTMODERNISM
ESSAY PLAN -Outcomes a)
Write down in your own words what you think the assignment is asking you to do.
To gain a greater knowledge of the history of postmodern architecture by researching the different aspects of the style and reporting my findings, in my own words what I have found out, and therefore evaluating the postmodernist era and style. a) What do you already know about the subject matter of the essay? The origins of postmodernist architecture, for example who introduced the movement to architecture and the first post modern building, the Vanna Venturi house. I also know a little about some iconic post modern buildings, including which are celebrated, and which are controversial. a) What background information do you need to help you to complete this essay? What makes the postmodernist style different from other types of architecture an the key aspects of post modern design. It would also help to know about the origins of postmodernism and how it came to become so popular, including the downfall of modernism and the pioneering architects
a)
How do you think this essay differs from or is similar to other assignments that you are working on at the moment?
This assignment is much more theoretical, and unlike the other projects which I am working on for my other modules, it doesn’t involve any of my creative output, and instead is focusing on the work of other people. I will also have to do much more in depth research into my chosen topic to ensure that I have enough information to make my essay as thorough and accurate as possible a) How are you going to choose your reading material? I will use the suggested reading list as a basis, I will also use online and library resources to find the most helpful material for my chosen subject. I would like to use a range of sources, some specific to post modern architecture and possibly some with a broader theme so that I can get a broad scope on the subject.
conclusion In Conclusion, it is difficult to brand the Post-modern movement in architecture as either successful, or unsuccessful, this could be down to the unique, and often in your face style of postmodernism, which to some people, is exciting yet to others, is kitsch and gaudy. This difference in opinion and taste makes it difficult to name the era as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. That being said it was successful in developing a new style, and escaping the grasp that modernism had on the world for so long, the mundane and sometimes inhabitable housing schemes that the modernist ear left us with are proof that something new had to come along to allow a variety of styles, colour and aesthetic to the world, rather than the overly co-ordinated and stripped back style which modernists desired. The Post-modernist movement is much less definable when compared to other styles, especially in architecture, and although they all follow a theme of distortion ‘and bending the rules’ it is very difficult to give a precise and concise explanation as to what makes a building post modern. If compared, the AT&T building in New York, and the Piazza d’Italia have very little in common, yet both fall under the same category. However this could allude to the reason that one is so admired, yet the other is widely disliked. I think when something is designed purely to be postmodern, such as the Portland Building and AT&T, then it is seen as tacky and trying to be different, yet with the Venturi house, which fell into the category of Post modern, as a rejection of modernism, then it is applauded for breaking the rules and making a statement. Given a sense of ending Link back to the introduction Summarise main points Answer any question set in the title
KEY
ESSAY PLAN - Five Paragraph essay Main “response” to question, introductory idea and flagging up topics to be covered I will be covering the different reactions to post modern architecture, and what different design aspects lead to different reactions and criticisms. To do this I will be exploring and analysing, through research, a range of different Post modern buildings, some which are celebrated, and some which have received backlash. I hope to discover a link between the design of these buildings and what causes the public, and critics to respond in the way that they do, wether positive or negative. I will also be exploring the introduction of Postmodernism to architecture and how the downfall of modernism helped to promote the movement. To do this I will look into the different architects who had the biggest effect on the movement
Point 1 The demolition of Pruitt Igoe, seemed to mark the moment that people realised that modernist design had been taken too far, and that living conditions had become inhumane. This helped to promote Post modernism- a clean slate and a new idea which allowed embellishment and didn’t focus on stripping design down to the bare necessities
Point 2 An example of some respected Post Modern architecture is the Piazza d’Italia in New Orleans. It encompasses many design features which are common within other postmodern designs, and although it is not an actual building. It is still an iconic and widely known piece of PM architecture. Designed as a monument for the Italian residents of New Orleans, the motive was also well respected
Point 3 An example of controversial architecture is the Portland building, which is widely disliked by the users of the building, and most architecture critics, it has been described as a ‘decorated box’ and is not only slammed for the kitsch exterior, but also the poor construction and atmosphere within the building
Re-state main arguments and points The downfall of modernism helped the uprising of Post modernism, Robert Venturi introduced the movement to architecture by building the Venturi house. Overall Post Modernism is a very controversial movement, especially within architecture, and it has to be done right, with the right intentions and design point of view, in order to be appreciated. Although Kitsch is very common in the movement, it is best to be kept to a minimum.
ESSAY PLAN -referencing
CURTIS, W. (1996) Modern Architecture since 1900, (3rd ed. ) London, Phaidon Chapter 32 Pluralism in the 1970s Information needed: Name, Date of publication, Title, Link to website and date that you accessed it. Eg. Smith,J (2017) Title, https://link.com (last accessed:25.07.2017)
FRAMPTON,K (1992) Modern Architecture – a Critical History.(3rd ed)London, Thames & Husdon pp.291-293 and pp.305-311
JENCKS, C. 2002, The new paradigm in architecture: the language of post-modernism, Yale University Press, New Haven, [Conn.];London JENCKS, C. 1991, The language of post-modern architecture, 6th edn, Academy Editions, London. Wherever you directly quote something, include the surname and year of publication
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