ARC 4010
History of Modern Architecture
Digital booklet Emily Walsh S16112598
Pages 1-2 What is modernism? Pages 3-4 The Pre-Raphaelites Pages 5-6 Bauhaus
Pages 7-8 Unite d’ Habitatio
Pa A
on
ages 9-10 Avant-Garde
Page 11 Referencing and bibliographies Pages 12-15 Essay planning
Page 16 Bibliography
What is modernism? 1
Utopianism
Figure 1- Walter Gropius
Figure 2- Bauhaus
After the horrors and destruction of WW1, there was a general call for a revision within design. There was a belief that people’s conditions could be improved by taking a more spiritual, sensual and rational approach to art and design. For example the Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius, was formed in postwar Germany in 1919. Not only did this reform the way art was created by uniting the art forms as one, but it also created a sense of community, which Gropius thought essential after the devastation of WW1.
The belief in the machine
Figure 3- Marshall Field Wholesale, by Henry Hobson- Richardson. Depicts Chicago school style of using height and many windows to let into maximum amount of daylight. Also industrial materials typical of period.
Another aspect of modernism is the embracing of technology and being futuristic within design. During the modernism period the were new advances in technology and engineering which inspired many architects. For example Le Corbusier famously declared in his 1927 manifesto ‘Vers Une Architecture’ that “a house is a machine for living in”. This appraisal of modern technology is reflected within the work of the Chicage School, which redesigned the city of Chicago after the 1871 fire. This includes the works of architects such as Louis Sullivan, who used new inventions such as the electric elevator to build to new heights and innovative ideas such as giving the base, middle and top of buildings separate functions to maximise the financial yield of a plot to adapt to the new economical and technical conditions of the time.
Going against the past...
Figure 4- Viollet-le-Duc's theories reformed decorative arts. E.g. exposing a building's structure and using industrial materials such iron.
Art Nouveau also played a key role in the origins of modernism. This movement began in 1892 in Belgium before moving to France and then the rest of Europe. It promoted the idea of not usng traditional techniques within design and came about with developments within technology. Art Nouveau placed the significance of ornament on the embellishment and nature of an object and was no longer space-filling. There was now a connection between ornament and empty space, known as ‘spatial silence’.
...or returning to the past
Figure 5- The Red House by William Morris and Philip Webb. Shows how they took influence from the past and how they promoted idea of arts and crafts by producing their own furniture etc.
One of the key movements within the origins of modernism is the Arts and Crafts movement. A significant figure of this time was William Morris, who despised mass production and lifeless objects produced by machines. Hence he sought to return to medieval techniques of crafsmanship to reintroduce craftwork. This went completely aginst the machine age and influenced later movements such as Art Nouveau.
International style
Figure 6- Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier. Conveys the typical rectilinear designs combined with industrial materials such as glass and reinforced concrete to produce a building based on form.
During the early to mid 20th Century, modernism became known as international style as it was adopted in many different countries, mainly such as Germany, Holland, Moscow, Paris, Prague and New York. The main aspects of the modernist style was the use of industrial materials such as glass, steel and reinforced concrete as well as using rectilinear geometric shapes. Modernism put emphasis on the function of a building and used new technology to create these forms.
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The Pre-Raphaelites
The Pre-Raphaelites was a brotherhood formed in 1848 and rebelled against the conservatie style of Victorian painting. Instead, they took inspiration from medieval Italian art before Raphael (1483- 1520) because of its simplicity and clarity. This secret society was formed of young artists and one writer in London and was lead by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt (other members included James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens, Thomas Woolner and William Michael Rossetti). In contrast to the Victorian style of the time, the Pre-Raphaelites used sharp outlines, bright colours and a high amount of detail within their paintings. They also focussed on serious subjects within the Bible, literature and modern life and painted them in a revolutionary way.
Figure 7
Edward Burne- Jones Portrait of Lady Windsor, 1893-95 Oil on canvas
Figure 8
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Dante Gabriel Rossetti, completed by Ford Madox Brown Beata Beatrix, 1877 Oil on canvas Shows moment of poet Dante in grief after the death of his love, Beatrice
Ford Madox Brown The Pretty BaaLambs, 1851- 1859 Oil on panel
Ford Madox Brown The Last of England, 1852-55 Oil on wood panel Inspired by subject of emigration from Britain during the early 1850’s.
Figure 10
John Everett Millais The Blind Girl, 1854-5 Oil on canvas
Figure 9 Figure 11
Arthur Hughes The Long Engagement, 1859 Oil on canvas Shows a clergyman and his partner who are too poor to be married. The dog represents the couple’s loyalty to each other. Figure 12
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Bauhaus
Figure 13
Arne Jacobsen- The EGG Chair
Carl Fieger- The Kornhaus
Personally, I admire Jacobsen’s EGG chair because of its simplistic yet effective design. I love the fact that is unique in the way it is not linear and has no edges, which makes it different to a typical chair. Not only does it appear comfortable, but I also believe that the chair is extremely practical, as this design could be placed in many environments (e.g. offices, hotels, apartments etc.)
I find the Kornhaus unique not only because of its curvilinear form, but I also admire the use of glass which I think draws the viewer in and makes them want to discover what is inside. Again, I am inspired by the simplistic colours and materials which come together to form a sophisticated structure.
Jacobsen created the chair in 1958 for the lobby and reception spaces at the Royal Hotel, in Copenhagen- which was also designed by Jacobsen. One of the ways his design manifests the Bauhaus ethos is the fact that it is not ridgid in its design and shows complete creativity and originality. It also appears almost as a sculpture, however it links to Bauhaus in the way this is combined with its practical element of being a chair. Nevertheless the most important aspect of the chair as being a part of the Bauhaus era is the fact that it was manufactured by the Republic of Fritz Hansen. Although Jacobsen had worked with the company since 1934, his breakthrough came in the 50’s after he designed the ANT chair and later the EGG. This company is significant because it hand-made Jacobsen’s chairs, hence an attempt to breach the gap between the artist (Jacobsen) and craftsmen (Republic of Fritz Hansen), which links directly to the Bauhuas manifesto. 5
Figure 14
The Kornhaus is a restaurant and pub which was designed by Carl Fieger and built in 1929-30 near the River Elbe in Dessau. Before the war, Fieger had worked at Peter Behren’s studio where he met other modernist architects such as Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. He later worked at Gropius’ studio and then became a teacher at the Bauhaus school. This building shows qualities of the Bauhaus through its curivilinear design and also the combination of construction techniques used- i.e. the use of materials such as glass, brickwork and reinforced concrete.
Josef Albers- Homage to the Square One of the most appealing aspects of Albers’ work is the use of various, bright colours. Despite the fact that the Homage to the Square pieces are all formed of the same squares, it is the different use of colours in each one that interestingly make the various pieces feel completely distinct to each other. As mentioned before, it is the use of these simplistic forms with colour to create something beautiful and original that I find fascinating. Figure 15
Although Albers started producing the ‘Homage to the Square’ pieces in the 50’s, he continued to apply principles of Bauhaus within these pieces. For example in the ‘Homage to the Square’ pieces, Albers experiments with the funadmentals of colour theory, composition and materials- which were the key aspects of the Bauhaus curriculum. This experimental, modernist approach to art is reflected in the Bauhaus style.
Contemporary example
Figure 16- Wagenfeld Table Lamp
Figure 17- iMac G4
It is clear that Bauhaus still has its influences on modern life and the everyday objects we use. It can be deduced from their designs, that Apple’s products take great inspiration from Bauhaus products. For example there are certain similar aesthetic qualities between the Wagenfeld table lamp and the iMac G4. Not only are they formed from similar shapes, but also the basic, minimalist colours and materials are apparent in both. This shows that even today we still value efficient, simplisitc design that keeps function at the foreground.
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Unité d’Habitation
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Unité d’Habitation was designed by Le Corbusier and completed in 1952. It is situated in Marseille France, and was built in order to house urban families and provided a communal living space for all the inhabitants. It included a shop, places for children to play, apartments and leisure activites in order to bring everyone together in a “vertical garden city”.
d’Habitation to help resolve this problem by using the idea of mass production so that a large amount of the building’s materials would be produced quickly. This building was made to house between sixteento eighteen-thousand people, which would have greatly helped the many residents of Marcelle who were left homeless after the bombings.
After World War II, there was a housing crisis. Therefore, Le Corbusier designed Unité
The building was constructed between 1947-45, and the elements that form the building are
quite simple. For example the main materials used within this building are reinforced concrete and glass. These materials are used throughout the builidng in the interior and exterior, hence there is a lack of decoration, but an emphasis on function. The interior spaces are simplistic and there is use of spotlights in the corridors to bring in natural light. Within the building are various spaces, such as the roof terrace, an interior street and the apartments. The roof terrace is acknowledged by the unique sculptural objects, which are
similar to forms seen on top of ships- which is perhaps a reference to Le Corbusier’s idea of a living space being a machine. On the roof terrace is the gymnasium, crèche and ventilator stack. This was intended to be a safe, open-space area where children could play whilst their parents relaxed in the sun. This links to the idea of the 5 Points of Architecture, since Le Corbusier recognises the roof as a new level in the air. Halfway up the block is a glazed gap where the interior street of shops, a
restaurant and hotel is. The apartments are designed in a very intelligent way, by constructing them in an almost jigsaw-like way. Each living room was doubled-heighted with a terrace and lower part going through to smaller balconies on the other side. The living rooms were spacious and had good views to the outside, which shows how Le Corbusier wanted to bring the idea of a happy and healthy lifestyle to the industrial
city. The double-heighted part of the apartment sat either above or underneath the single-heighted part of another apartment which made up three normal floors. In the single-heighted part was the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. The unit were accessed via a long corriodr that ran down the spine of the building
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Avant-Garde Avant-Garde is a term that is still used today, which means to experiment with new methods or materials. Between 1910 and 1930, the Avant Garde movement did this, and those who were involved saw themselves at the fore-front of a new tradition- one which rejected the conservative style of the time. Examples of Avant-Garde movements that did this are De Stijl and Russian Constructivism. De Stijl was influeced by previous movements such as Dadaism and Cubism, however they rjected the Cubist’s view on naturalism and took a more geometrical stance to design. Constructivism and Rationalism were two Avant-Garde movements that happened simultaneously in Russia. While the Rationalists were inspired by the expressionists and tried to ‘purify’ art, the Constructivists tooks a completely different approach and considered art to be more of construction- similar to the Futurists. It can be deduced that the AvantGarde art and architecture was used to express political situations of the time. For example constructivist artist El Lissitzsky’s (1890-1941) work, Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge (1919). This piece was made to show his support of the Red Army, not long after the revolution in 1917. He uses particular colours and shapes to portray different meanings, i.e the red triangle appears to pierce the white circle, which represents how the Red Army had taken down the White Army’s defenses. Vladmir
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Tatlin’s (1885- 1953) Monument to the Third International (1919-20) is an example of political architecture. Although never built, this spiraling construction was designed in order to commemorate the Communist International and portray its aims of the future. In my opinion, I think that art and architecture can and should respond to politics. Not only do I think it is significant in a historical sense, but politics shapes our culture, our lives and our way of thinking- as art and architecture also should. Therefore it is important that we address the problems of today and use innovative and creative thinking to do so. Using the Avant-Gardes as inspiration, I have created my own manifesto which focusses on the need to reunite in these times of political unrest and uncertainty.
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Curtis, W. (1996) Modern Architecture since 1900. 3rd edn. London: Phaidon Wright, F. L. (1908) Coonley House Plan. Available at: http://www. greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbc-drawing.cgi/Coonley_House.html/ Coonley_House_Plan.jpg [assessed at 07/01/17]
(Surname of author, year published), if directly quoted (Surname, year: page no. ) No foot- or end notes needed.
Alphabetical order of the authors’ surnames
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Curtis, W. (1996) Modern Architecture since 1900. 3rd edn. London: Phaidon
Frampton, K (2007) Modern Architecture- a Critical History. 4th edn. London: Thames & Hudson
Larkin, D. (1993) Frank Lloyd Wright; the masterworks. London: Thames & Hudson
Patterson, T (1994) Frank Lloyd Wright and the meaning of materials. London: Van Nostrand Reinhold
Pfeiffer, B & Futagawa, Y. (2002) Prairie houses: Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867- 1959. Tokyo: ADA Edita
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Essay planning By completing the two previous worksheets I gained full understanding of how to reference correctly in my essay and I acknowledged which reading material I needed. It also gave useful information about how to analyse a source, as in its reliabilty and what kind of information it might give.
WORKSHEET 2 Once you have thought about the assignment consider the following tasks: a) Write down in your own words what you think the assignment is asking you to do. Look at how F.L.W developed the prairie style-i.e. his influences and how they’re shown in the houses. Use evidence to back-up your pointsand use a variety of arguments. b) • • • •
What do you already know about the subject matter of the essay? Main aspects of prairie style- e.g. horizontality, flat/ hipped roofs, open plan Inspired by American prairies Became new American architecture Frogal gifts- influenced geometric forms
c) • • • •
What background information do you need to help you to complete this essay? America during this time- what were American values and why Traditional American houses/ neo-classicalism influence More info about key influences His thoughts and why he turned to this style
d) How do you think this essay differs from or is similar to other assignments that you are working on at the moment? Requires much more compilation of arguments and critical thinking e) • • • •
How are you going to choose your reading material? See if can read F.L.W’s diaries Look at suggested reading See if there are any relevant Architectural journals in library Type keywords into library system to find books
f) As you begin to read for your assignment, try to read and take notes with the essay in mind. The more questions like this you can answer, the more you will be able to focus your reading and research for the essay. You can skim material with a sense of what you are looking for, instead of spending a lot of time reading every word.
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Initial ideas ContextAmerican values & neo-classical style
They revolutionised American residential architecture Compare examples of typical neoclassical housing & one example of prairie For each difference/ similarity explain consequences/ effects of this, e.g. improved living conditions?
He integrated his own principles into the prairie style
His influences and inspiration
How they are shown in his work/ key aspects of houses
They represent American valuesdescribe what these are
Introduction
Paragraph 1against tradition
Paragraph 2American values
Link back and evaluate how much these aspects represent American values
Question 4 Frank Lloyd Wright’s concept of the prairie style house epitomizes American values breaking with the European influences of the neo-classical style that was prominent in the USA at the turn of the Century. How did Wright develop this style, what were his key influences and how are these principles represented in the houses?
Paragraph 3his own principles
Take out aspects from one of his works
Conclusion
Pick out examples of this from one of his works Discuss effects of this and why he did it. How did it form part of prairie style
Summarise how context of time influenced his design
Summarise the American values they represent
Summarise his principles within the design
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Improved Main “response” to question, introductory idea and flagging up topics to be covered Successful, one of most famous Architects of 20th C Changed residential houses Mention points you’ll talk about in order Robie & Coonley because of success
Topic 1 Introduce – Proof – Discussion - Point
Embodies American Values Open plan, new types of spaces (e.g. music rooms/ conservatorie s), different layout (i.e. kitchens nearer servants) Portrays democracy, freedom; new class= new customs; easier lifestyle for workers Bring together American values &his inspiration
Topic 2 Introduce – Proof – Discussion - Point
Had many influences ChildhoodFroebel gifts, working on farm; old employers; the prairies; Japantokonoma & Ho-o-den The prairie style incorporates many ideas & experiencesshows how he could bring them all together Some of these notions were his own principles
Topic 3 Introduce – Proof – Discussion - Point
Incorporate d many of his principles about simplicity, unity, horizontality & precision Using screen windows, matching furniture, use of materials like Roman brick, use of machine= clean lines Feel less boxy, clean, sophisticate d, original design Each building developed differently
Re-state main arguments and points
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Made for modern life Went with the time- i.e. time of prosperity, new class Compiled principles & influences to make sophisticated style Improved living conditions
Topic 4 Introduce – Proof – Discussion - Point
Developed differently= different characteristi cs 2 different stylesRobie= rigid, Coonley= sectioned, both don’t use real timber but different materials on the whole Didn’t use real timber because wanted to show nature of wood’s appearance , not strength
Question 4 Frank Lloyd Wright’s concept of the Prairie Style house epitomizes American values, breaking with the European influences of the neo-classical style that was prominent in the USA at the turn of the Century. How did Frank Lloyd Wright develop this style, what were his key influences and how are these principles represented in the houses themselves? Discuss with reference to two examples. Your essay should include illustrations, at least two of which must be your own drawings. Intro • Successful, one of most famous Architects of 20th Century • Changed residential houses • Mention points you’ll talk about in order • Robie & Coonley because of success
Books I’m going to use: • Curtis, W. (1996) Modern Architecture since 1900, (3rd Edition) London, Phaidon (Chapter 7, The Architectural System of Frank Lloyd Wright) • Frampton, K (1992) Modern Architecture- a Critical History (3rd Edition) London, Thames and Husdon (pp 57-64 The Myth of the Prairie) • Patterson, T (1994) Frank Lloyd Wright and the meaning of materials, London: Van Nostrand Reinhold • Larkin, D (1993) Frank Lloyd Wright: the masterworks Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation London: Thames and Husdon in association with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 1993 • Pfeiffer, B & Futagawa, Y (2002) Prairie houses: Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867- 1959; Tokyo: ADA Edita Also go back to lecture slides to find resources, try to read F.L.W’s diaries and Architectural Journals
Wright, F. L. (1908) Robie House: First floor plan. Available at: http://www. archdaily.com/60246/ad-classicsfrederick-c-robie-house-frank-lloydwright/5037de3328ba0d599b0000acad-classics-frederick-c-robie-housefrank-lloyd-wright-main-floor-plan [assessed at 07/01/17]
Wright, F. L. (1908) Coonley House Plan. Available at: http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbc-drawing. cgi/Coonley_House.html/Coonley_ House_Plan.jpg [assessed at 07/01/17]
Wright, F. L. (1911) Living room of Coonley House. Available at: http:// www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/ article.cfm?request=209 [assessed at 07/01/17]
Para 1- American values 1. Embodies American Values 2. Open plan, new types of spaces (e.g. music rooms/ conservatories), different layout (i.e. kitchens nearer servants) 3. Portrays democracy, freedom; new class= new customs; easier lifestyle for workers 4. Bring together American values & his inspiration
Para 2- Influences 1. Had many influences 2. Childhood- Froebel gifts, working on farm; old employers; the prairies; Japan- tokonoma & Ho-o-den 3. The prairie style incorporates many ideas & experiences- shows how he could bring them all together 4. Some of these notions were his own principles Para 3- Principles 1. Incorporated many of his principles about simplicity, unity, horizontality & precision 2. Using screen windows, matching furniture, use of materials like Roman brick, use of machine= clean lines 3. Feel less boxy, clean, sophisticated, original design 4. Each building developed differently Para 4- Development 1. Developed differently= different characteristics 2. 2 different styles- Robie= rigid, Coonley= sectioned, both don’t use real timber but different materials on the whole 3. Didn’t use real timber because wanted to show nature of wood’s appearance, not strength Conclusion • Made for modern life • Went with the time- i.e. time of prosperity, new class • Compiled principles & influences to make sophisticated style • Improved living conditions
Referencing: IlustrationsFacsimiles of illustrationsFacsimiles of illustrations online-
ARC 4012 Emily Walsh S16112598
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Bibliography What is modernism?
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/modernism/ https://utopiadystopiawwi.wordpress.com/the-bauhaus/ https://www.britannica.com/art/International-Style-architecture Wilk, C. 2006, Modernism: designing a new world, 1914-1939, V&A, London Colquhoun, A. 2002,Modern Architecture, Oxford, Oxford University Press
The Pre- Raphaelites
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (2014) The Pre-Raphaelites Available at: http://www.birminghammuseums. org.uk/bmag/highlights/the-pre-raphaelites [assessed 10 October 2016] Tate Pre-Raphaelite Available at: http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/pre-raphaelite [assessed 10 October 2016] British Library The Pre-Raphaelites Available at: https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-pre-raphaelites [assessed 10 October 2016]
Bauhaus http://www.arne-jacobsen.com/en/arne-jacobsen/designs http://www.fritzhansen.com/en/fritz-hansen/the-republic/History http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/the-kornhaus-by-carl-fieger.html https://www.bauhaus100.de/en/past/people/masters/carl-fieger/index.html http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/kornhaus-1.html http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/b/bauhaus https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/abstract-exp-nyschool/ny-school/a/albers-homage-to-thesquare http://www.theartstory.org/movement-bauhaus-artworks.htm
UnitÊ d’Habitation Curtis, W.J.R. (1996) Modern Architecture since 1900. 3rd edn. London: Phaidon Press Limited. http://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/15/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-cite-radieuse-marseille-brutalist-architecture/ http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-Corbusier http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier
Avant-Garde http://www.theartstory.org/artist-lissitzky-el-artworks.htm#pnt_2 Figures: 1. Walter Gropius https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Gropius 2. Bauhaus http://study.com/academy/lesson/walter-gropius-biography-buildings-works.html 3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marshall-Fields/images-videos/Marshall-Field-and-Company-Wholesale-Store-Chicago-by-HenryHobson/74184 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Viollet-le-Duc 5. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/victorian-art-architecture/pre-raphaelites/a/william-morris-and-philip-webb-redhouse 6. http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/Corbu.html 7.BMAG The Preraphaelites Available at: http://www.bmagprints.org.uk/image/331189/sir-edward-burne-jones-lady-windsor [assessed 10 October 2016] 8. Illussions gallery Petty Baa-Lambs Available at: http://www.illusionsgallery.com/Pretty-Baa-Lambs-Brown.html [assessed 10 October 2016] 9.Arts-Prints-on-demand Rossetti & Brown/ Beata Beatrix- Dante Gabriel Rossetti Available at: http://www.art-prints-on-demand.com/a/rossettidante-gabriel/rossettibrownbeatabeatrix.html [assessed 10 October 2016] 10. BMAG The Last of England Available at: http://www.bmagprints.org.uk/image/331192/ford-madox-brown-the-last-of-england [assessed 10 October 2016] 11. Wikiart The Blind Girl Available at: https://www.wikiart.org/en/john-everett-millais/the-blind-girl-1856 [assessed 10 October 2016] 12. Fine art america The Long Engagement Available at: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-the-long-engagement-arthur-hughes.html [assessed 10 October 2016] 13. Jacobsen, A. (1958) EGG TM Available at: http://www.fritzhansen.com/en/fritz-hansen/asset-bank [assessed 12 October 2016] 14. Fieger, C. (1929- 30) The Kornhaus Available at: http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/kornhaus-2.html [assessed 12 October 2016] 15. Albers, J. (1969) Homage to the Square: Soft Spoken Available at: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/abstract-exp-nyschool/ ny-school/a/albers-homage-to-the-square [assessed 17 October 2016] 16. Wagenfeld, W. (1924) Wagenfeld Table Lamp Available at: http://www.tecnolumen.com/12/Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Table-lamp.htm [assessed 17 October 2016] 17.Apple (2002) iMac G4 Available at: http://www.macworld.com/article/1167686/macs/the-exceptional-imac-g4-ten-years-later.html [assessed 17 October 2016]
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