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History of architecture essay
Modern architecture history
History of architecture essay
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Contemporary Architecture
The term of “contemporary architecture” refer to the architecture of the present day. This floating definition may lead to misunderstanding of the meaning. Some may think that any recently constructed building can be belong to the contemporary architecture and this is wrong. Contemporary architecture is based on common rules, principles and characteristics by all those who practice it. Contemporary architecture is dynamic style which changes constantly. Accordingly, contemporary architecture cannot be regarded as an architectural movement.
Architectural movements, like the Baroque, Futurism, or Modernism, are always characterized by features gives the building or the structure historical identity. Since the contemporary
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Large and multiple windows are very common feature of contemporary architecture. Wide unfamiliar openings, picture windows, curtain walls, and skylights either on flat or low-pitched roofs are all use to let the sun shine in creating special effect in the place and enhances the quality of space. The benefits of this type of fenestration is to provide natural lighting in place and integrate stunning outdoor views with the interior on the other hand Clerestory windows let light in without offering outdoor views and leave valuable wall space free. To more distinguishing of contemporary interior spaces large continuous spaces are created. Continuous open spaces can be achieved by the elimination some of interior walls or re-design interior spaces and lightly colored callings and walls can create the since of wide airy …show more content…
Architects recognize the essential need for retrain back to nature and to have direct contact with the nature. Beginning with building materials that surround us natural materials are mostly used in contemporary buildings. Natural resources of materials enhance the sustainability and reduce emissions and environmental waste. Moreover recycled and nontoxic materials are used commonly for both the interior and the exterior. Plants exterior walls and on roofs very common feature increased the air quality, blend the building with the natural surroundings and to facilitate natural cooling to the interior. Contemporary designers were excellent in integrate to structure with the surrounding not only through planting roofs and surfaces but by using of local materials and blending buildings with the natural surroundings or repurposing existing buildings. Indoor spaces blend with outdoors spaces due to the use of large glasses and natural materials. Roof is given a great importance in contemporary architecture where overhanging roofs are used to produce eye-catching design and create additional shading areas without harming the
It is the new decade after the end of world war two and modernism is a well-established practice. Its pioneers and spearheads are prevalent figures looming over the new architects and designers who are trying to make their mark in the shadows of such historically influential people. With new technologies and materials emerging from the world wars the next era of modernism had started to evolved, bringing with it philosophies and ideas which seemed far removed from those of the pioneers of modernism “What emerged in the late 1940s and 1950s was an expanding synthesis of questions utterly removed from the confident statements of the pioneers.”(Spade 1971,10) Two significant buildings were designed in the 50's, both of them for educational institutes and to house students of architecture, there were both designed in completely different styles and methods. The first is Ludwig Mies van der Rohes' Crown Hall, finished in 1956 and designed as a part of a campus master plan for the Illinois Institute of technology in Chicago. Mies' design for Crown Hall is one of his most realised expressio...
For this assignment I am going to investigate the main elements of the building. With these components I will try to identify the key elements that show and define the architecture. A history of a chosen element will also be investigated.
Nesbitt, Kate. Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture: An Anthology of Architectural Theory: 1965-1995. New York: Princeton Architectural, 1996. Print.
Abstract: New forms in current world have been testimony to the contemporary style of postmodern architecture and are the strength of today’s generation for creating significant architectural standards. Post modernism has blurred the borders between contemporary and traditional construction classical concepts and simply in the field of art and literature. The architectural elements like domes, arches, and classical shapes have lost their identity but the post modernism tries to bridge between these historical forms and contemporary styles. The related architects not only struggled to achieve the image for the buildings but also rejected oversimplified diagrams for living. The post modernism here tries to achieve theoretical base for their designs that creates the excitement in the design program.
In conclusion, the debate between aesthetics and functionalism has been around for a long time. It becomes clear however, through research, that the first thing architects consider is function, and then aesthetics. It is because of this approach that aesthetics becomes somewhat of a by-product of the whole design process. By looking at examples of various buildings, it is apparent that aesthetics is important to structure and in many instances has been successfully coupled with function. But in no circumstance should aesthetics take precedence over the function and practicality of a building. It seems more likely that a happy medium between function and aesthetics can be reached, on a project by project basis, and then applied to the design process of creating the building.
18th Century, one of the important epochs in the human civilization, marks the period when Architects and Artists began to see and be open to the great revival of interest in the learning and values of modernism. Throughout this era, Modern Style and International Style significantly contribute in influencing its Architecture Style Period. Although both of them are parts of the 18th Century Architecture Style Period, each style has remarkably distinguishable modern language and modern antiquity in it. The first building discussed in this essay would be the Kaufmann Residence or as known as Fallingwater House which was built during the early Modern period, while the other building is Farnsworth House, which was made in international period with
The essence of modern architecture lays in a remarkable strives to reconcile the core principles of architectural design with rapid technological advancement and the modernization of society. However, it took “the form of numerous movements, schools of design, and architectural styles, some in tension with one another, and often equally defying such classification, to establish modernism as a distinctive architectural movement” (Robinson and Foell). Although, the narrower concept of modernism in architecture is broadly characterized by simplification of form and subtraction of ornament from the structure and theme of the building, meaning that the result of design should derive directly from its purpose; the visual expression of the structure, particularly the visual importance of the horizontal and vertical lines typical for the International Style modernism, the use of industrially-produced materials and adaptation of the machine aesthetic, as well as the truth to materials concept, meaning that the true nat...
The designs of Le Corbusier revolutionized what people see as modern architecture and the Shodan House is a prime example. Often modern architecture is associated with a vast array of windows, many linear forms and post and beam architecture, all of which are present in this design. The geometrical shape of the Shodan House in conjunction with the lines created from the windows form an example of what is now regarded as modern architecture.
In conclusion, traditional culture in architecture is being eroded by modernity of the present architecture in China. The combination of the tradition architecture and contemporary architecture can effectively release the conflicts between them, and this can be achieved by two approaches: one is the employment of the traditional symbols; the other is the application of the traditional materials in modern architecture. In addition, the Chinese architects should raise their personal cultivation to really understand the dramatic charm of Chinese traditional architecture. With these approaches, the conflicts between traditional architecture and contemporary architecture will be released to a real extent.
Frank Lloyd Wright has been called “one of the greatest American architect as well as an Art dealer that produced a numerous buildings, including houses, resorts, gardens, office buildings, churches, banks and museums. Wright was the first architect that pursues a philosophy of truly organic architecture that responds to the symphonies and harmonies in human habitats to their natural world. He was the apprentice of “father of Modernism” Louis Sullivan, and he was also one of the most influential architects on 20th century in America, Wright is idealist with the use of elemental theme and nature materials (stone, wood, and water), the use of sky and prairie, as well as the use of geometrical lines in his buildings planning. He also defined a building as ‘being appropriate to place’ if it is in harmony with its natural environment, with the landscape (Larkin and Brooks, 1993).
The book as a description of modern architecture, its styles and influence succeeds but falls short as a prescriptive methodology. His work is still recalled for the need by modernists to categorize everything into neat little boxes, not necessarily for the sake of uniformity, but for sake of some ambiguity. The ambiguity may be the triumph of this book as post modern architecture era is supposed to create more questions than the answers.
Human beings are susceptible to the force of nature. They had to make shelter for themselves. Material was one of the most basic tools to create shelter. By development of building construction, selection and use of materials also developed. The relationship between the architecture and the materials before invention of modern materials was simple and generally naturally [1]; in the past, architects always use tradition materials according their experimental skills. For choosing structural materials, they had attention to important factors such as availability (local materials) and harmony with climate and culture [2], although this way was forward with feedback. But this relationship was not continuing simply.
What makes modern architecture? Before answering this, one would need to understand what the term “modern” exactly describes. In architecture, modernism is the movement or transition from one period to another, and it is caused by cultural, territorial, and technological changes happening in the world. In Kenneth Frampton’s Modern Architecture: A Critical History, he details these three major societal changes that impact and create modern architecture.
A natural building has the same concept to a green building but rather on a smaller scale and leans towards using natural materials that are obtainable locally. Green architecture and sustainable design are closely related topics. Sustainability can be described as fulfilling the needs of current generations devoid of compromising the capacity of generations to come meeting their needs.
From my opinion off what I have gathered, I came to an understanding that Critical regionalism can be seen as an approach to architecture that tries to stand up for places culture and identifies the identity of a place where Modern Architecture has failed to, by using the building's geographical context and reference of vernacular architecture. The term critical regionalism was first used by Alexander Tzonis and Liane Lefaivre and, with a somewhat different meaning, by Kenneth Frampton. Critical regionalism could be considered as a particular kind of post-modern response. This response developed as a result of the failure of Post-modernism, together with the influence of Globalization and the spread of Western culture. Critical Regionalism could also be seen as the best solution to cultural issues and the problems of architectural identity. Frampton’s argument is that critical regionalism should not only answer to context, but it should also value the progress of universal modern architecture.