Modern (also Modernist) architecture, for the purposes of this blog, is a catch-all term for the functionalist and minimalist architecture of the 1920s through the 1980s. Modernism represents the change in the architectural zeitgeist from the lavishly ornamented Art Deco and Beaux-Arts architecture to a rejection of perceived unnecessary decoration.
For the sake of clarity, there are many different terms for the overall Modernist movement. I define the ones I use as such:
- Modernism - see frst paragraph
- Internationalism - In Europe, specifically the beginnings of the Modern movement starting in the 1920s. In the United States, the glassy, boxy skyscrapers of the 1950s-1970s, designed by Mies van der Rohe, SOM, et al.
- Mid-Century Modernism - smaller-scale Modernist architecture built in the United States from 1950-1969, mostly Ohio State campus architecture
Modern architecture began with the International movement in Europe in the 1920s, based on Le Corbusier's Five Points and the work of the Bauhaus. In the United States, architects like Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra (both Austrian, not American) designed early "white box" houses at the same time, and Frank Lloyd Wright's work also set the framework for Modern architecture's growth. The International Congress of Modern Architects (CIAM) in 1928 established a common dogma that set the framework for Modernism as it existed for decades following.
Modernism became dominant after World War II, when the destruction of European cities and shortages in the United States resulted in a desire for cheaper and simpler construction. Architects such as Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe arrived in the United States, bringing with them their signature design language. Modern architecture remained popular through the 1960s and 1970s, though it became criticized by what would later be called the Postmodernists, as well as figures like Reyner Banham who suggested alternatives to the style.
Modern architecture's aesthetics are a highly recognizable feature of the style. It uses mass-produced and often cheap materials, such as concrete, steel, glass, and stucco. Although not always, these materials are employed in what is perceived as an honest manner. Forms are either very pure or informed by the building's function, resulting in the derided "white box" composition. Modern architecture generally avoids applied ornamentation, though some designs such as Mies's skyscrapers will use abstract features such as I-beams to emphasize verticality. Modern buildings like to have a monumental scale, such as massive skyscrapers or wide factories. Transparency and dematerialization are achieved through the usage of glass and open floor plans. Modernist designs usually have a large site that is mostly unoccupied, creating "towers in the park."
Modernism also has a dogmatic philosophy to it. The movement was founded with socialist and populist ideals, as designing simple, cheap "machines for living" were viewed as a means achieve a social utopia. Naturally, this didn't happen, and these same efficient aesthetics were then exploited by the capitalist machine to maximize profits. Modern architecture mostly rejects history and decoration, leaning more towards a sterile aesthetic and what was perceived as tectonically pure designs.
Modern architecture was practiced until the mid-1980s, though by that time it was largely replaced by Postmodernism. However, Modernist principles have had a great impact on the way the architectural profession exists today, and buildings that even revive the movement (Neo-Modernism) are being constructed today.