Individual, collective, expressive or rational: What 20th century architectural movements can teach us

Individual, collective, expressive or rational: What 20th century architectural movements can teach us

For this essay I will look at how the 20th century architectural movements have slowly progressed through time having a big effect on our contemporary built environment. I will start by writing about the main 20th century movements which encouraged certain architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Groupius to push the boundaries of modern architecture into a new sense. To define the ever changing architectural attitudes we categorise them into the following terms: individual, collective, expressive and rational. I will discuss these terms including relevant examples and show how we can apply them to our contemporary built environment to gain an understanding of our surroundings.

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Firstly, in order for us to learn about our contemporary designed environment, we must start with how 20th century architecture can teach us about the influences and movements which changed the face of architecture and got us to where we are now. I have come across 10 essential architectural movements from this time period which can show how architecture developed through this period. The first is Art Nouveau, characterised by odd shapes with the use of lots of arches, curves and gardens that feature curvy floral designs with the use of plants. This type of design is expressive with odd striking shapes and detailed gardens it has no sense of rationality. The movement was a reaction to industrialisation and the boom of mass production, across the world its saw the likes of architects such as Victor Horta and his building the ‘Tassel House’. With it’s curved lines and vegetal ornament, making a statement with the idea of looking to the past traditional crafts in an attempt to revive artistic craftwork, which took skill and time. It was a clear rejection of the neo-classicism style of the 18th and 19th century which employed straight lines and strict proportions. Second is the Arts and Crafts movement using aesthetically pleasing shapes like The buildings of the Art Nouveau movement but was designed more to fit within its surroundings and create a more personal feeling for the client bringing the inside of the building outside and vies versa. This movement is individual and expressive but also slightly rational.

Art Deco architecture is taken from different pre-existing styles but made with modern materials such as stainless steel and aluminium. Seen as buildings of the future with sleek, smooth lines, geometric and zigzag shapes, also quite often painted in vivid colours with patterns influenced by Egyptian art. This is an individual movement using lots of different architectural influences and influences from art movements. The Chrysler building New York (begun 1928) is typically characteristic of art deco taking arched forms which are derived from classical models but reinterpreted in new ways.

This movement then called for a new style in architecture that entertained the idea to create buildings which were completely uninfluenced in the hope of expanding the mind to something never been seen before. This was known as the Futurist movement, ignoring all past architectural movements and create something entirely new using only modern technology and materials in the construction of this type of structure. This type of architecture was purely individual.

Modern architecture was designed to be simple and un-ornamental to adapt to social and political change. This could be due to a deflated feeling post war because of the severe loss encountered through that time not just humanity but architecturally also. There may have been a sense of relief and an appreciation for the simple things which saw a lack of need for beauty and aesthetics. The Bauhaus building designed by Walter Gropius is an early example of modern architecture. This was seen as a rational way of designing taking away all the ornamental forms and creating something minimalistic and simple to give a clean and bright space.

International style is taken from the modernist movement but designed to give a visual weightlessness, stripped of any ornamental or decorative forms with an open plan space and a cantilevered construction, with the use of glass, steel and less visible reinforced concrete. The functionality and use of the space within was also a main influence on the design. Again this type of design is rational but I think it could also be seen as expressive because it’s fundamentally modern but has been adapted to look more aesthetically pleasing.

Expressionist architecture is totally opposite to the previous two movements and began to taking a big step back to the beginning of th……………………….