At the end of World War 1, people came to the realization that the values they held did not seem to correspond to what they believe in anymore because of what they experienced during the war; so, they decided to explore new ones. The 1920’s was an era of breaking social norms in America and adopting new ones that not everyone agreed with. This rebellious nature sparked an energetic and dynamic expression throughout the country. Architecture played an important role in contributing to the 1920’s that still reflects in the present.
There was an improvement in standards of residential homes, so that houses would be fixed to meet the changing needs of the people. To demonstrate, according to the website, 1920’s Architecture, it states that, sleeping
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In architecture during the 1920’s, new materials were brought in as it was found that they were better suited for construction and new technology was employed to advance the function of a building. For starters, in the book The Usborne History of the Twentieth Century, “In the 20th century, new materials, such as concrete, plate glass and steel have given architects more choice and flexibility” (Hopkinson 52). Concrete and steel allowed for more durability and firmness of structures, unlike wood where it is a strong material, but not a smart choice to be used for certain types of establishments. These new materials also allowed the idea of skyscrapers to be possible because a building of such height would need materials that could withstand great weight and force for a long time. Additionally in the website 50 Roaring Twenties Facts , an important characteristic of improved standard in architecture during the 1920’s was electrical lighting (Alchin). Not only did this device provide light in every aspect of a building when it was needed, but looking at a broader viewpoint it improved work production. People did not have to rely on other means such as sunlight to get responsibilities done, especially for industries as they could now work at any time, improving their system. Furthermore, since all buildings did not have electrical lighting before, people were not common to …show more content…
Architecture played an important role in contributing to the 1920’s that reflects in the present. There is more to a building besides acting as a place for shelter; there is history behind it and represents the importance of the past because the past is what the present. Time should be taken to appreciate the beauty and design of a building, and know that there is a story behind it.
Works Cited
Alchin, Linda. “50 Roaring Twenties Facts”. American-historama.org. Web. 13 March 2017.
Hopkinson, Christina. “Art and Architecture”. The Usborne History of the Twentieth Century. …..England; Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1993. Print.
Laurent, Pascal. “What is Art Deco?” Art Deco Society of New York. n.d. Web. 16 March 2017
Mumford, Lewis. “The Intolerable City: Must it Keep on Growing?”. Americainclass.org. 2012. …..Web. 23 March 2017.
Norton, Mary Beth. “The Vitality and Turmoil of Urban Life”. A People & A Nation. Ninth Edition, …..Volume II. Australia: Suzanne Jeans. 2012. Print.
Scott, Robert. “1920s Architecture, The Age of Skyscrapers and Bungalows”. 1920-30.com. 2012. …... Web. 15 March 2017.
“Twenties in Contemporary Commentary, The”. Americainclass.org. 2012. Web. 16 March
The 1920s were a time of change for the United States. Following the First World War there was a rush of new cultural, social, and artistic dynamism, partly fuelled by the Progressivism movement that was cut short when American entered the Great War. This decade was defined by a change from more rural farm life to industrialism in big cities. The shift from the frugality and traditional family values or previous generations to the happy-go-lucky consumerism and metropolitan life occurred more rapidly than any other social shift in living memory. These swiftly changing tides caused cultural clashes and confrontations throughout the decade as America struggled to define for itself a fresh national identity in the wake of its new position as a world power.
Through out the 1920’s many inventions were created that altered human civilization. Transportation was successfully mastered. Radio communication was becoming more common and medicine was saving more and more lives every day.
Dell Upton is a historian and renowned professor of architecture and Urbanism at the University of California. He has published several books on architecture; one of them is “Architecture in the United States”, published in 1998. In this book, Upton analyzes the architecture of the United States in different aspects, such as nature, money and art, thus depicting the great variety in architectural forms, and how throughout the decades, different interests have lead communities to different ways of building, different purposes and materials, thus reflecting their way of thinking and their relationship with the environment. By exploring so many different architectural styles, Upton reveals the great diversity and richness that has always, and continues to characterize American architecture.
The radio revolutionised the way families spent time together and receive information. The movie theaters had an impact on how people forgot about the depression and made life seem better. Many homes in the 1920s also just got access to electricity while many homes were still lit by candle light, but became more prominent as the time period continued. Labor saving appliances of the 1920s made the household chores easy to accomplish than it used to be. The 1920s was enriched by many technological achievements that helped changed the way americans communicated, managed their health, and partook in leisurely activities.
She redecorated the once cluttered dining room of her apartment in the 1890’s, stripping away the heavy Victorian decoration and replacing it with furniture and accessories to lighten the room. “Eleanor Brown’s style was based on French classicism, the prevailing taste in American society that had been established by Elsie De Wolfe twenty years before” (Smith, 100). Contrary to many of the decorators of her time, she also designed in the Directoire and English Regency style (Smith, 100), as French and English interiors were where she drew a lot of her inspiration from. In 1928, Brown designed an apartment for herself that included many styles, including Greek revival, Classical Revival, and even some late-Art Deco design. Dorothy Draper designed in the “classical late-Art Deco, Greek-Egyptian” (Smith, 105) style.
The 1920’s is a period that defines the United States. Conflict and opposing values were increasingly prevalent in the American society. The country was torn between new political practices, views on the role of women, religion, social and artistic trends, science and more traditional beliefs. These were ideologies that were surfacing during the 1920’s. Much tension between the 'new America' and the 'old America' was caused by a number of wars and outbreaks (Lyndon).
As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. It was also a decade of great economic and political confidence. However, with all the changes comes opposition. Social and cultural fears still caused dichotomous rifts in American society.
It will discuss the different types of dwellings throughout recorded human history from the perspective of how art and culture influences building design. This will fulfill my own curiosity to understand the different influences on homebuilding and design over the years and how people have dealt with these changes.
Wukovits, John F., ed. America's Decades: The 1920's. San Diego: Greehaven Press Inc., 2000. Print.
Where would the world be without the inventions and ideas of the 1920's? The answer is, no one really knows; however, the inventions and ideas that were brought about in the 1920's are things that are used more than ever today. With the technological advancements made in the 1920's, the invention of the radio, television, automobile, and other minor advancements made the 1920's one of the most important decades of the 1900's.
In Jane Jacobs’s acclaimed The Life and Death of Great American Cities, she intricately articulates urban blight and the ills of metropolitan society by addressing several binaries throughout the course of the text. One of the more culturally significant binaries that Jacobs relies on in her narrative is the effectively paradoxical relationship between diversity and homogeneity in urban environments at the time. In particular, beginning in Chapter 12 throughout Chapter 13, Jacobs is concerned greatly with debunking widely held misconceptions about urban diversity.
The 1920s. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997. Print. The. Peacock, John. The.
Architecture, the practice of building design and its resulting products, customary usage refers only to those designs and structures that are culturally significant. Today the architecture must satisfy its intended uses, must be technically sound, and must convey beautiful meaning. But the best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of history of cultures, achievements in architecture that testify to the nature of the society that produced them. These achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art, yet Frank Lloyd Wright single handily changed the history of architecture. How did Frank Lloyd Wright change architecture?
Susan S. Fainstein, Scott Campbell. 2003. Readings in Urban Theory. Second Edition. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
Holt, Elizabeth G. From the Classicist to the Impressionists: Art and Architecture in the 19th Century. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1966.