Modernism: Its Formal, Spatial, Tectonic, Philosophical And The Broad Contextual Characteristics

Table of Contents

Modernism: History

Clean lines and simplified forms

Functionality and open floor plan

Modern Systems and Materials

Examples of Modern Materials and Open Floor Plans

Glass and natural light

Manufacture of Mouldings and Ornaments is not available

Modern Buildings: Evaluation

Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye

Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe

Ronchamp Chapel – Le Corbusier

Bosjes Chapel, Wellington, South Africa

This paper will examine Modernism as an architectural movement. To create a theoretical framework, we will engage in the formal, spatial and tectonic characteristics of Modernism. The framework will be used to evaluate four architectural projects. This will allow us to determine how successful they are.

Modernism is a style or philosophy of architecture. This is a massive global movement that insists on minimalism and shuns ornament. Minimalism aims to communicate simplicity through simple elements, basic forms and simple materials. (Architecture 2017,)Modernism is infected and surrounds Futurism and Bauhaus. These themes all have an impact on modernism and shape the theory of Modernism. Modernism has many characteristics that are influenced by other cultures. Modernism is defined by its asymmetric compositions and use of reinforced concrete. It also uses flat roofs. It uses general cubic shapes. Ribbon windows are used with no ornaments. (Architecture, 2017)

Modernism: History

According to many sources, modernism was born out of romanticism’s struggle against the industrial revolution. The history of modernism as an architectural movement can be divided into three periods: the being, the modern, and the late. Modernism was born in the 1920’s through the 1950’s. However it was born out of the age for reason and higher technology. Ela Poursani best describes modernism in Modernism: A Response in her book Modernism. In 1921, Le Corbusier stated that a house was a “machine for living in”. This is the definition of modernism. This’machine aesthetic’ that comes from Descartes defines one central concept of modernism.”

Ela Poursani’s statement supports many other well-known architects. She describes modernism in a way that is easy to understand. The industrial revolution and widespread use of machines forced many architects to change the way they thought and designed. Many architects stated that modernism was not a style. Instead, it was a new way of looking at space and time. Modern designers began adapting to mass production and new technologies in 1920s. Modernism was first dominated by the aesthetics of the machines. This language was promoted by Walter Gropius (Architect) and Le Corbusier (Architect). (Anthony S. Denzer, 2004)

Modern design is simple and clean. Modern architecture is founded on simple shapes, clean lines and basic forms. Modernism has simple forms that are geometric, rectangular and have linear elements. This can also be seen in Weissenhof Siedlung’s building, which will further be evaluated in the paper. (Anthony S. Denzer, 2004)

Open Floor Plan and FunctionalityFunctionality is also a term that characterizes the form of a modern building. Functionality refers to things that are designed or built for a specific purpose. Functionality can best be defined using the phrase “Form follows functionality”. Open floor plans are entangled with functionality. Modernism’s hallmark is that multiple living and working spaces can be combined into one area. (Norberg-Schultz, 1950)

Modern Systems and MaterialsModernism makes use of modern materials such reinforced concrete and steel column, something that was impossible before the industrial revolution. Concrete blocks can be used to finish the columns, but they are also useful as structural materials. Concrete floors emphasize mass concrete use in modern buildings. Steel trusses, which span long distances, allow for open floor plans that are column-free. Radiant heating systems, which increase thermal comfort in buildings, are modern systems.

(buildings, 2018)

Examples of Modern Materials and Open Floor Plans. Use of Natural Light and Glass. In modernism windows are no longer tiny frames that allow you to see outside. Instead, they have a larger floor-to-ceiling expanse of glass. This allows natural light to penetrate the house’s interior and creates stunning views. These glass windows are available in various sizes and shapes, including large windows or horizontal ribbons windows. Ribbon windows can be described as a facade that hangs from a structural framework. This created a break between the exterior walls which were designed to support load and also the facade. These horizontal windows could not be used with traditional enclosures, but they became a symbol for modern architecture. (Merleau-Ponty, 1945)

Modernism is known for its lack of ornaments and mouldings. Clean aesthetics are possible by removing ornamental trims and mouldings. Materials meet in well-executed joints. Decorations can be made with moldings and ornaments. They were once a popular trend because people believed ornaments added beauty to buildings. Adolf Loof (18th-century modernist architect) declared ornaments a crime. In his essay “Ornament Is a Crime”, he stated that ornaments are social crimes because they degrade the potential and function. Ornament, to me, is not necessary and doesn’t serve a purpose in a building. Modernism is all about simplicity and beauty. Ornamentation is therefore unnecessary. Simpler materials are more useful and efficient than ornaments and molds. (Loof, 1956)

Evaluation of Modern BuildingsLecorbusier’s Villa SavoyeVilla Savoye has been a pivotal building in modernism’s development. It is one of very few French houses to have been declared a National Monument in Le Corbusier’s lifetime. Le Corbusier approached the Savoye Family to create a weekend residence for their family. The Holiday Home is located in Poissy outside Paris on an open-air field that once was surrounded only by woods. Because the client had only minimal restrictions, Le Corbusier was able to explore the five points of architecture in the building. These are his key points for modern architecture:

Pilotis lifted the building to the surface

Open plan interiors

A facade free from load bearing structures

Flat roofs that can be used as a terrace or garden

Ribbon Windows are used for natural lighting and ventilation.

Villa Savoye is another example of Le Corbusier’s belief that a home should be a “machine to live in”. This belief is expressed in spatial planning. The spaces are arranged so that they have a minimal aesthetic. It also maximizes efficiency. The 1929 concept of the turning radius in cars gave rise to the curved sliding glass at ground level. The owner could drive under the bigger volume and pull into the integrated garage. This is also an indication of Le Corbusier’s passion for car design. As support, the upper level is supported by thin white-painted concrete columns. To match the surrounding forests, the lower lever can be set back. This creates the illusion there is an upper volume floating above it. Le Corbusier’s work features a lot of windows and is one of the key characteristics that define modernism. These windows are placed on top of the faГ§ade to let as much light into the building’s interior as possible. This project is successful because it reflects modernism’s various characteristics. (Ford 1928-1988)

Mies van de Rohe, Barcelona Pavilion Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used the principle of “Lesser is More” to design this project. This principle is achieved by minimizing the number of components while still making it possible to have multiple use rooms and well-organized spaces. This is in keeping with modernism’s key characteristic, simplicity. Barcelona Pavilion’s horizontal orientation is highlighted by its low roof, which creates the illusion that it floats above the building’s interior as well as the exterior.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s idea was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. He saw that rectilinear areas had perfectly defined forms. Forms were then joined to form an open-plan, making the pavilion’s exterior as well as interior identical. He realized that less was more.

Eight steel pillars are used to support the flat roof. The interior walls are created by large glass structures. Mies created the grid system as a framework for working systems. It also serves as a guideline for placing travertine pavers. Horizontal planes of marble or glass are used to divide them. These planes appear free-standing in an open floorplan. This allows a simple floorplan to look complex without the need for walls. Walls within the building are directors of spaces and not structural supports. This project demonstrates many characteristics of modern buildings and has helped to shape modernism’s framework. (Architecture, 2017)

Ronchamp Chapel, Le CorbusierIn 1954 Ronchamp Chapel was established to be a Catholic church. A stone structure was built on the site of the previous pilgrimage. It was destroyed by the Second World War. This chapel is one of 20th century’s most significant buildings and helped Le Corbusier to abandon functionalist design in his earlier projects. The Roof is a huge concrete shell structure made of concrete. It is supported by columns that are hidden within the walls. The walls have a small opening underneath that allows light to pass through the interior. While the exterior might give the impression that the interior is complex, it has a simple floorplan. Due to its curvature, the building’s main structure is made up of thick masonry walls. They provide structural support and stability.

The mortar was used for finishing the interior and exterior walls. The roof was left in its original state to show the concrete’s marks. This is an important characteristic of modern buildings. The materials used have an impact on the success of the building in modernism.

Modern buildings are made of mass concrete. Three thick walls curve outwards to create small chapels at the ends of the main spaces. Le Corbusier used this technique differently from his earlier works. Although it does not normally use thick walls to create spaces, the chapel still functions as an ordinary plan building. Renzo Piano’s workshop constructed a monastery at bottom of hill above the chapel in 2011, but it was damaged by vandals in 2014. After the incident, Xavier Delory, a well-known photographer, created several images that featured Le Corbusier’s Building wrapped in his murals. He claimed that it would serve to remind us that modern buildings can be modified to accommodate any kind of change. That is one characteristic I found in this building’s analysis. It lacks the major features of modernism like flat roofs or ribbon windows, but it adapts to its surroundings and provides both aesthetic and functional design. (Ford 1928-1988)

Bosjes Chapel. Wellington. South Africa. The Chapel was designed in South Africa by Coetzee, an architect born in South Africa. He is part of the London-based staystudio. As a tribute to the Cape Dutch Style gables, its calm and sculptural form mirrors the mountains. A thin shell of concrete was used to construct the building. As it touches the ground, the roof is strong and holds its own. Each wave-like roof surface eventually rises to a peak. This compliments its facade. The white building is a reflection of the religious and cultural backgrounds that will inhabit it. The structure’s weightlessness can be emphasised with a reflective pond. The chapel rises above the level land on which it is situated, creating a hierarchical center point in its surroundings. The interior consists of a large area that can be used for assembly and is laid out in a straightforward rectangular layout. The floors are highly polished and reflect light. The minimal palette of materials serves as a backdrop for the spectacular views of vineyards and mountains. Other functions of buildings function are concealed or kept to a minimum in order to preserve the assembly space and the structural form of its roof. CoetzeeSteyn, architect, says that the roof is “a clean assembly space and structural form.”

Its openness invites people in. It also has a place that extends beyond the valley to the mountains beyond.

Modernism is a well-known movement in architecture, but it is not as popular among architects who support it. Modernism can be combined with other movements, such as art, music and even life-style. I was interested in the characteristics of modernism throughout my research. This was to help me create a theoretical framework that would allow me to critically examine and engage with buildings around the globe. It was then simple to determine if the framework is followed by buildings.