MA L4 - Expressionism & Constructivism

Expressionism

An artistic movement that focuses on showing emotions and feelings instead of just physical appearances, often highlighting human spirituality.

These concepts address people in a new way, view people as spiritually gifted. 

Artists started addressing the spiritual dimensions of humans, underlying concepts of expressionism. 

Main figures of German expressionist architecture (3)

(1) Taut

(2) Poelzig

(3) Mendelsohn

Bruno Taut

A German architect known for his belief in the spiritual qualities of architecture, particularly through the use of glass.

Glass increases the spirituality present in human beings.

Glass House Pavilion (Overview)

Taut - Glass House Pavilion, Cologne (1914)

A pavilion designed for the Werkbund exhibition. Taut had two goals:
(1) exhibit modern building materials - glass
(2) to use this location to provide visitors with a special spiritual experience

Glass House Pavilion (Structural Analysis)

• At first glance, the building has a bold and unusual shape.

• It features a concrete base and a striking dome roof.

• Perfect geometric shapes make the structure stand out from the natural landscape.

• The organic base is transformed into a more artistic, crystal-like form.

“Glass Poetry”

“Glass Poetry” by Paul Scheerbart - verses displayed on supporting ring of cupola

It states "the coloured glass destroys hate" glass is everything that allows people to start a new kind of life, to connect with the universe, leaving behind everything that is heavy, that is a burden.

Luxfer glass bricks (Symbolism)

• The pavilion combines a culture of spiritualized form with industry.

• The project was funded by the glass company, Luxfer.

• The colored glass symbolizes the destruction of hate, promoting connection among people and helping them leave behind both happiness and burdens.

• This contrasts with traditional materials like brick and stone.

Glass House Pavilion (Spatial Analysis) (3)

(1) Visiting Building

• Designed as a space for visiting and passing through.

• Although small, the pavilion offers a rich experience.

• It features a carefully planned scenography.

• The design supports "rites of passage" for spiritual purification.

(2) The entire pavilion is an exhibit, showcasing the glass industry. Everything is included:

• Metal structure filled with glass bricks leading to the upper floor.

• Lamp

• The floor made of colored glass.

• Demonstrating what can be done with colored glass.

(3) Cascade Room

• Lateral walls and dome are covered with silver and golden colored tiles, creating a warm and precious atmosphere.

• Rear wall is made of glass prisms and painted glass.

• The room is designed to provide a synesthetic experience (a mix of sensory perceptions).

  • Cascade with strings of glass pearls produce different forms and sounds of flowing water.

  • Combination colors, lights, sounds creates a sensory experience.

Glass House Pavilion: what is the name of the environment created?

Synesthetic environment

Crystalline environment allows visitors to have a transformative experience, leaving the building feeling reaffirmed and renewed.

Alpine Architecture (Background)

Start of the War

• Werkbund exhibition closed early due to WWI.

• Many saw the war as a positive force at first.

• War caused massive death.

Impact on Artists

• Artists realized their belief in art improving humanity failed in the face of war.

• Artists were confused, unsure of what the public or they wanted from their work.

• Artists proposed utopian ideas through drawings instead of concrete projects.

Alpine Architecture (Main Concept)

1910s: Bruno Taut, a key figure, started drawing expressionist visions of a better world.

• Published in the book Alpine Architecture in 1918.

• Taut’s vision was to create new, natural, crystalline places for dwelling

• Alps: far from urban centers, a pure world untouched by war.

• Alpine Architecture contains 30 drawings in 5 sections, showing how crystal architecture could improve life.

Alpine Architecture (5 sections)

(1) Ascending - 5 drawings about ascending the mountains to reach the Crystal House, a symbol of glass and crystal architecture.

(2) Panorama of mountain architecture - architecture that fosters a sense of community, where people live and interact in harmony, sharing spaces like dining areas. No boundaries; everyone shares the land and lives together in nature.

(3) Vision to reality - Taut suggests how to bring this utopia to life in the Alps, despite potentially harming nature. Taut calls for Europeans to unite and help build these crystalline cities, focusing on light and color as key elements.

(4) Global Expansion - Start with crystal city in the Alps, then expand globally, including islands in the South Pacific and North Sea. He also proposed expanding to America.

(5) Universal Expansion - In the fifth section, he extends his vision into space, proposing crystal cities across the solar system.

The Great Theatre

Hans Poelzig - The Great Theatre, Berlin (1919) - the theatre as a tool to recreate community

• Designed for a private stage director as a large theatre.

Goal is to offer people an escape and a new perspective after the war.

(1) Exterior

• Huge baroque-style building.

• Facade features lesenes (narrow, low-relief vertical pillars) as a unifying motif.

• Every element is part of a cohesive, organic design.

(2) Interior

• Auditorium (5000 seats) and central stage.

• Stalactites ceiling, light effects and cave atmosphere creating community-like atmosphere.

(3) Lobby and Other Spaces:

• Central lobby designed adapts motifs of palm trees, umbrellas, or fountains.

Collective shelter and encourages gathering.

(4) Goal:

• Change mindset of spectators, foster sense of unity and community.

• The architecture, enhanced by light, invites people to gather and leave with a transformed perspective.

Erich Mendelsohn (Design Philosophy)

A German architect who believed architecture's main task was to express energy and dynamic movement.

(1) Design Philosophy:

• Focus on creating buildings that express force, energy, and motion.

• Architectural forms shaped by lines of force, reflecting movement and energy.

• Concepts of Energy:

  • Explored how energy can transfer tension.

  • Highlighted the difference between inward dynamics (energy contained within) and outward dynamics (energy projected outward).

Einstein Tower

Mendelsohn - Einstein Tower, Potsdam (1917-1921) - concrete structure emphasizing the relationship between mass and energy.

1) Key Concept: The building represents the energy contained within the structure, not its dynamic form. The energy it conveys is more important than its physical appearance.

2) Client: Finlay-Freundlich, an astronomer interested in Einstein's theory of relativity, which links mass and energy. Freundlich wanted to build an observatory to test this theory.

3) Initial Sketch: Freundlich's design included a tower and an underground space to shield from noise and disturbances, resembling typical observatories of the time.

4) Mendelsohn's Vision: Translated Freundlich’s sketch into a more organic and unified design. His drawings evolved, aiming to express energy and motion through dynamic, cohesive forms.

5) Building Form: The Einstein Tower is designed as a single, unified organic form. It’s meant to look like an organism, with elements resembling muscles, cords, eyes, and a mouth, creating a dynamic expression of forward motion and restraint.

6) Material and Structure: Concrete was essential for the dynamic, organic shapes, but due to post-WWI limitations, Mendelsohn used brick, plaster, and cement to mimic concrete’s look. The idea of concrete was more important than the actual material used.

Russian Constructivists

Group of Russian architects who had a strong idea regarding the spiritual quality and political dimension of art. 

• 1917 October Revolution: Abolished private property and established a communist social and economic order.

• New Art Schools: The revolution led to the creation of schools like VHUTEMAS, which focused on abstract art.

• Art Ideology: These schools promoted a universal aesthetic language to reflect the ideals of the Soviet Union. (eg. abstract sculptures using industrial materials)

Prouns (Example)

A concept by El Lissitzky (influential artist, painter, sculptor)

Acronym signifying 'Project for the Affirmation of the New,' uniting art and architecture to embrace innovation.

Eg. Proun Room - Started with painting and drawing, then applied concepts to spatial designs.

• Created for a Berlin exhibition, where he transformed his "Proun" paintings into sculptural reliefs.

• Immersive Spaces: Designed stage-like, immersive environments for the exhibition.

Cloudhanger

El Lissitzky - Cloudhanger Proun (1925)

• A project for gatehouses in Moscow.

• Transition to Architecture: Moved from painting to actual architectural design.

• Proposal: Designed gate buildings around the historical center of Moscow.

• Photomontage: Used to enhance realism, making the project more tangible and impactful.

Monument to the Third International

Vladimir Tatlin's - Monument to the Third International (1919-20)

• Project designed for a Communist Party conference.

• Open lattice framework with two interwoven spirals symbolizing cultural dynamism and the momentum of the Communist revolution

• Proposed a model with three suspended volumes- a cube, a pyramid, and a cylinder.

  • Function of Volumes:

    • Cube: Headquarters for international meetings.

    • Pyramid: Communist Party center.

    • Cylinder: Communist propaganda unit.

  • Rotation of Volumes: Each volume was designed to rotate at different speeds—cube annually, pyramid monthly, cylinder daily—to represent the dynamics of each institution.

• Scale and Location: Intended to be a 400-meter-tall monument in Saint Petersburg, taller than the Eiffel Tower.

• Symbolism: The monument would be painted red, symbolizing the communist revolution.

• Outcome: Although significant in concept, the monument was never built.

Rusakov Workers' Club

A community center in Moscow designed to represent communist ideals through bold architectural forms aimed at engaging the public.