Modernist architectural features

Modernist architecture refers to an architectural trend of thought that dominated the western architectural world in the middle of the twentieth century. The representative of this kind of architecture advocates that architects should get rid of the shackles of traditional architectural forms and boldly create brand-new buildings that meet the conditions and requirements of industrialized society. Therefore, it has distinct rationalism and radicalism, and is also called modernist architecture.

Modernist architectural thoughts came into being in the late19th century, matured in the 1920s, and swept the world in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the 1960s, some people think that modernist architecture is out of date, and some people think that the basic principles of modernist architecture are still correct, but they need to be revised and supplemented. Since 1970s, when referring to modernist architecture, some documents have been labeled as "1920s" or "orthodox".

19 19, German architect Gropius was the principal of Bauhaus. Under his leadership, Bauhaus became one of the most radical art and architectural centers in Europe in the 1920s, which promoted the architectural innovation movement. Mies van der Rohe, a German architect, also published a series of articles in the early 1920s, expounding new ideas and showing the features of future buildings with schematic diagrams.

Villa Savoi near Paris.

In the mid-1920s, Gropius, le corbusier, Miss Van der Rohe and others designed and built some buildings with novel styles. Among them, the Bauhaus school building in Gropius, the Savoi Villa in le corbusier, the Swiss student dormitory in Paris and his design scheme of the Geneva International union buildings, and the German Pavilion of the Barcelona Expo in ludwig mies van der rohe have great influence. Under the influence of these three architects, some young European architects, such as Finnish architect Aalto, also designed some excellent new buildings in the late 1920s.

Different from academic architects, Gropius and others are concerned about the housing that ordinary residents need in large quantities, and some people have made scientific research on it.

During the period of 1927, a residential exhibition was held in Stuttgart, Germany under the auspices of Mies van der Rohe, which had a great influence on the research work of residential buildings and the formation of new architectural styles. In 1928, 42 representatives of innovative architects from 12 countries gathered in Switzerland and established the International Association of Modern Architecture. One by one, "modernist architecture" also spread everywhere.

From the speeches and practical works of Gropius, le corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and others, we can see that the "Modernist Architecture" advocated by them emphasizes that architecture should keep pace with the times and modern architecture should adapt to the industrialized society. Emphasize that architects should study and solve the practical function and economic problems of buildings; Advocate the active adoption of new materials and structures, and give play to the characteristics of new materials and structures in architectural design; Advocate resolutely getting rid of the shackles of outdated architectural styles and creating new architectural styles; Advocate the development of new architectural aesthetics and create new architectural styles.

The representative figures of modernist architecture advocate new architectural aesthetic principles. Including the unity of expression and construction means; Coordination between architectural form and internal function; The logic of architectural image; Flexible and balanced asymmetric composition; Simple manipulation and pure body shape; Absorb the new achievements of visual art in architectural art.

Some people call these architectural views "functionalism", others "rationalism", but more people call them "modernism".

United Nations Building in new york —— Early Modernist Plate Building

In the 1920s-1930s, the architectural works designed by architects with modernist architectural ideas had some similar formal features, such as flat roofs, asymmetrical layout, smooth white walls, simple eaves treatment, glass windows of different sizes, and little or no decorative molding. Such an architectural image appeared in many countries for a time, so someone named it "International Architecture". Of course, the name is in some superficial forms.

In 1930s, modernist architectural thought spread rapidly from Western Europe to all parts of the world. Gropius and Mies van der Rohe were forced to emigrate to the United States because the German fascist regime was hostile to the new architectural concept. Bauhaus school was closed. However, Bauhaus's teaching content and design ideas have had a far-reaching impact on architectural education all over the world.

Capitol

Modernist architectural thought is first implemented in practical building types such as factory buildings, primary and secondary schools, hospitals, libraries and a large number of residential buildings. In 1950s, it was also realized in memorial and national buildings, such as the United Nations Headquarters Building and the Parliament Building. By the middle of the twentieth century, modernism occupied a dominant position in the world architectural trend.