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=__Modern Architecture, Form or Function?__=

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__Functionalism__ One of the main principles of modern architecture is that architectural beauty would come naturally once functional aspects of the building had been fulfilled. Following from that, modern buildings have no unnecessary embellishments and details. They are simple. __ International Style __ International style is the dominant style of modern architecture, bringing together all ideas of straight lines, geometric shapes and buildings built for a specific function. Le Corbusier, (see below) stated that building should function as “machines for living in”. The video above shows many of Le Corbusier’s designs, who like other modernist designers, preferred to emphasise the materials used and the strict geometric forms. The Seagral building in New York (below), designed by Ludvig Mies van de Rohe is one of the best examples of Functionalism.

__ Bauhaus and Walter Gropius __ In 1919, Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus School of arts in Weimar, Germany. Despite the Bauhaus movement being one of the most influential of the last century, The Bauhaus School didn’t have an architectural department. Particular characteristics are the emphasis of the function of an object or a building and an absence of ornamentation and embellishments.

__ Art Deco __ The Art Deco movement, between 1925 until 1939, was a design movement affecting principally architecture, but also fashion, graphic design and even film. Contradicting all other styles of modern architecture (form follows function), Art Deco was purely decorative. A good example of Art Deco is the Chrysler Building in New York. The spire uses geometric shapes, a typical feature of the Art Deco movement, as well as zigzagged and jumbled shapes.

__ Movements __ International Style, Bauhaus, Art Dec, Art Moderne, Contemporary Style, Streamline Moderne, Constructivism, Post Constructivism, De Stijl, Heliopolis style

__ The Architects: __ __Le Corbusier -__ Le Corbusier was a Swiss-born architect, who made a huge impact to modern architecture when he published a book in 1919 on the theory of interrelation between machine technology and new buildings.

__Ludwig Mies van der Rohe –__ another of the three great modernist architects, along with Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. He also used modern materials such as glass and industrial steel for his simplistic buildings.

__Louis Sullivan -__ « Form ever follows function », an American architect, sometimes thought of as the founder of the skyscraper.