Emergence of Modernism

The emergence of modernism began following World War 1, this redesigned the world. This is when designers were embracing industrial design instead of inspiration from history. There are many master architects that came from this “modern movement” such as Frank Loyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier. Frank Loyd wright was had more of a modern prairie style with floor plans that inspire current homes today. He created open floor plan concepts toward incorporating private areas with public areas of the house. After the prairie style came to the international style. Through this style, the authors established three important principles that are reflected today. The first principle is about the expression of volume rather than mass this principle started to push designers to test the laws of physics by incorporating suspension and transparency in their designs. The second principle was the emphasis on balance rather than preconceived symmetry. Lastly, the expulsion of applied ornamentation. This spouted minimalism, through simplified forms and the rejection of ornamentation which was expressed through the use of glass, concrete, and steel. and slick lines in the design.

One step Further:

The emergence of modernism was full of so many amazing architects, it is so hard to choose one. But Le Corbusier stands out to me more in this style because of a project I was assigned freshman year at Judson University. Le Corbusier’s, La Villa Savoye, was given to me for my freshman final precedent project. I spent hours looking through books and drawings of this beautiful building. Spending so many late nights trying to make my drawings and model look exactly like it. I was so pleased with the end result, and because of the time I put into it, I feel more of a connection and appreciation for this architect and what he stood for. Le Corbusier believed in functional spaces and the importance of functionality, which meant he didn’t believe that décor was necessary, but art was. Art can create a space, and architecture is a form of art, so creating a space to complement art or vice versa was not something Le Corbusier was unfamiliar with. You see an example of that with the Pavilion de l’Esprit Nouveau building he designed.

 

Current Applications:

1. This image reflects modernism in a couple ways. First, you see the use of glass and concrete around the fireplace, these were commonly used materials in this style. Another reason this is a current application of the emergence of modernism is that this space compliments the art piece on the wall. Without that wall art, this space would be entirely different. The contrast of the white and gray of the art piece is brought out in the space, with having half of the wall white and the other half dark gray. There also isn’t much ornamentation except for a little bit of décor, and then functional, beautiful fixtures.

2. As for this interior, it is similar to the first image through the use of concrete and contrast of white and gray colors. I love this interior because they have a pop of color from the furniture. The furniture I thought was very similar to the furniture Mies Van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier designed. It contrasts the neutral colors in the space but creates unity because the furniture pieces are a set and are similar. I love the leather pelted look with metal and I especially liked how there weren’t legs on this furniture.

 

3. I chose the images below because I think it embraces modern technology which is something Le Corbusier really stood for. It is made out of concrete, a modern material. And It is very similar to the stairs that le Corbusier designed as a concept of creating space-defining elements that aren’t structural. The difference is that this designer of the current stair, used drywall or wood, painted white to extend and emphasize the negative space the stairs create underneath. The sides of the stairs are raised to a proper rail level, so it is a unique and functional way to have a railing that is different and creates a beautiful design and focal point in the space.