Chapter 15 Modernism and Key Works

These flashcards cover key architectural concepts, terminology, and notable works discussed in the notes on Modernism and its influential figures.

Seagram Building

A skyscraper designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, completed in 1958, celebrated for its external non-structural grid of bronze-tinted steel and glass.

Farnsworth House

A residential structure designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1950-1952, notable for its elegant design that resembles a classical temple.

Miesian skyscraper

A term referring to skyscrapers designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, known for their minimalist form and structural expression.

Modernism

An architectural movement characterized by a desire to create a new aesthetic in response to the Industrial Revolution and modern society.

Raumplan

A spatial concept developed by architect Adolf Loos, emphasizing the organization of space in three dimensions, rather than strictly in traditional floor plans.

Bauhaus

A German school founded by Walter Gropius that emphasized functional design, combining crafts and the fine arts, and influenced modernist architecture.

Deutscher Werkbund

An association of German artists, architects, and designers founded in 1907, aimed at improving the quality of manufactured goods through design.

Avant-garde

Innovative, experimental ideas and practices in the arts, considered to be ahead of their time; often associated with Modernism in architecture.

Bourgeois traditionalism

A term referring to conventional, middle-class values in architecture that Modernists sought to challenge in favor of innovative designs.

Art Deco

An architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by decorative arts influences and geometric forms.

Adolf Loos's "Ornament and Crime"

An influential essay by Adolf Loos published in 1910, where he argued against the use of ornament in architecture, advocating for simplicity and functionality.

Postmodernism (1960s revised thinking)

An architectural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, challenging the doctrines of Modernism by reintroducing historical elements, ornamentation, and diverse aesthetics.

Frank Lloyd Wright

An influential American architect (1867-1959) known for his philosophy of 'organic architecture,' designing structures that harmonize with humanity and its environment.

Prairie Style

Frank Lloyd Wright's distinctive residential architecture, characterized by horizontal lines, open plans, low-pitched roofs, and integration with the landscape, often found in the American Midwest.

Unity Temple

A Unitarian Universalist church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park, Illinois, completed in 1908, notable for its use of reinforced concrete and its geometric, monumental form.

"Honest labor needs no master. Simple justice needs no slaves."

A quote by Frank Lloyd Wright reflecting his democratic ideals and belief in craftsmanship, often associated with his vision for organic architecture and American society.

The flight from America (architectural context)

Refers to the movement of European Modernist architects to the United States in the mid-20th century, often fleeing political upheaval, profoundly influencing American architecture and education.

Hendrik Petrus Berlage

A Dutch architect (1856-1934) considered the 'father of modern Dutch architecture,' known for his rationalist approach, brickwork, and influence on the Amsterdam School.

Wendingen

An influential Dutch art and architecture journal published from 1918 to 1932, known for its focus on Expressionist and Art Deco designs, featuring richly illustrated layouts.

German Expressionist Architecture

An architectural movement, primarily in Germany during the early 20th century, characterized by distorted shapes, jagged forms, and the expression of emotion through design, often in brick or concrete.

Einstein Tower

An astrophysical observatory in Potsdam, Germany, designed by Erich Mendelsohn and completed in 1921, widely regarded as a key example of Expressionist architecture.

Peter Behrens

A prominent German architect and designer (1868-1940) associated with the Deutscher Werkbund, known for pioneering industrial design and corporate identity for AEG.

Exploiting the potential of concrete

A key aspect of Modernist architecture, where architects like Le Corbusier utilized reinforced concrete for its structural capabilities, allowing for innovative forms, open plans, and monumental scale.

Le Corbusier

A Swiss-French architect, designer, urban planner, and writer (1887-1965), considered one of the pioneers of modern architecture, known for his Purist aesthetic and 'Five Points' of architecture.

Dom-ino House

Le Corbusier's influential structural concept from 1914, utilizing a reinforced concrete slab and column system to create an open-plan framework, allowing for flexible interior layouts.

Citrohan House

An early housing prototype designed by Le Corbusier (1920-1922), conceived as a minimalist, standardized dwelling unit, embodying his ideal of the house as a 'machine for living.'

Villa Stein

A Purist villa designed by Le Corbusier in Garches, France (1927), exemplifying his 'Five Points' with its rational grid, open plan, and minimalist aesthetic.

Villa Savoye

An iconic Modernist villa designed by Le Corbusier in Poissy, France (1928-1931), considered a prime example and realization of his 'Five Points' of architecture.

Le Corbusier's Five Points of Architecture

Five principles formulated by Le Corbusier (1926) for modernist building: 1. Piloti (supports), 2. Free plan, 3. Free facade, 4. Horizontal windows, 5. Roof garden.

Walter Gropius (Role at Bauhaus)

The founder and first director of the Bauhaus school (1919), who championed a holistic approach to design, integrating art, craft, and technology to create functional, mass-producible objects and buildings.

The Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau

The evolution of the Bauhaus school from its initial location in Weimar (1919-1925), which focused on crafts, to Dessau (1925-1932), where it emphasized industrial design and architecture in its iconic modern building.

De Stijl

A Dutch artistic movement (1917-1931) advocating for pure abstraction and universality through simple geometric forms and primary colors, significantly influencing Modernist architecture and design.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Philosophy)

Known for his aphorisms 'Less is more' and 'God is in the details,' Mies van der Rohe's philosophy emphasized minimalist design, structural clarity, and the honest expression of materials.

Barcelona Pavilion

The German Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, renowned for its open plan, rich materials (marble, onyx, chrome), and flowing space.

Tugendhat House

A Modernist villa in Brno, Czech Republic, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1928-1930), featuring an open-plan living area, exquisite materials, and innovative spatial organization.

Influence of the Barcelona Pavilion

Its profound influence derived not from its contents, but from the building itself—its innovative free-flowing space, luxurious materials, and the way it redefined the concept of a modern exhibition structure.

Traditional Design (Architectural context)

Architectural approaches that adhere to historical styles, established conventions, and often incorporate decorative elements, contrasting with the radical innovations sought by Modernism.

Style Moderne

An alternative term for Art Deco, an architectural and decorative arts style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by sleek, geometric forms, rich ornamentation, and luxurious materials.

Empire State Building

An iconic 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, completed in 1931, famous for its distinctive setbacks, ornate detailing, and status as a symbol of American innovation and ambition.

Diaspora and the later work of Mies

Refers to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's emigration to the United States in 1937, where he became director of architecture at IIT, leading a second phase of his career marked by monumentality in steel and glass.

Crown Hall

The S.R. Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (completed 1956), considered his architectural masterpiece, demonstrating the ultimate expression of industrial steel construction.

Le Corbusier's Parliament Building (Chandigarh)

Part of the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, India, designed by Le Corbusier (completed 1964), known for its monumental Brutalist forms, expressive concrete, and symbolic elements blending with the landscape.

Sainte Marie de La Tourette

A Dominican monastery near Lyon, France, designed by Le Corbusier (completed 1960), characterized by its Brutalist concrete forms, deep-set windows, and spiritual atmosphere.

Unité d'Habitation

Le Corbusier's pioneering residential housing concept, first realized in Marseille, France (completed 1952), designed as a 'vertical garden city' with communal facilities, based on the Modulor system.

Guggenheim Museum (Frank Lloyd Wright)

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (completed 1959), distinguished by its spiraling ramp structure and unconventional display of art.

Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright)

An iconic house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in rural Pennsylvania (completed 1939), celebrated for its seamless integration with its natural surroundings, featuring cantilevered concrete terraces extending over a waterfall.