HOAFINALS (1)

PROTO RATIONALISM

• Definition and Characteristics

  • Simple geometric shapes focus on economy and pure forms.

  • Movement towards reduction in architecture: construction to function, form to abstraction, buildings as economic enterprises.

Otto Wagner (1841-1918)

• Background

  • Became a professor of architecture at the University of Vienna.

  • Designed eclectic buildings influenced by Renaissance and Baroque styles.

• Philosophy

  • Advocated for modern life as the starting point for artistic creation.

  • New construction principles must lead to new forms for harmony with human needs.

• Notable Work: Vienna Postal Savings Bank (1904-1906)

  • Significant early modern architecture work, moving away from Art Nouveau.

  • Classical design with a granite base and marble cladding fastened with visible aluminum bolts.

  • Marble's use represents a celebration of new forms and materials, indicating inexpensive maintenance.

  • Design conveys strength and an impenetrable character appropriate for a bank.

Adolf Loos (1870-1933)

• Background

  • Cultural critic, journalist, and architect from Brno, Czech Republic.

  • Authored the manifesto "Ornament and Crime" in 1908.

• Philosophy

  • Advocated for simple craftsmanship over ornamentation, promoting functional living.

  • Preferred rich flat surfaces to aid efficient lifestyles.

• Notable Work: Steiner House, Vienna (1910)

  • Influenced by suburb planning regulations, featuring a sweeping curved roof and four-storey composition.

  • Became a key reference for modern architecture and the International Style.

  • Emphasized space design over traditional flat plans and sections.

Auguste Perret (1854-1954)

• Innovation

  • First architect to establish a distinct style for reinforced concrete.

  • Designs employed simple, linear forms, prioritizing structural clarity over decoration.

• Notable Work: Rue Franklin Flats, Paris (1903)

  • Eight-storey apartment building with angled balconies allowing free interior plans and views.

  • Featured a reinforced concrete skeleton and roof garden, emphasizing flexible floor planning.

Walter Gropius (1883-1969)

• Career Start

  • Worked under Peter Behrens (1907-1910).

  • Focused on social architecture, housing, and cost-effective prefabrication.

• Notable Work: Fagus Factory (1911)

  • Addressed client demands for an attractive facade with a projected steel skeleton.

  • Introduced the notion of the "curtain wall" and cubism, dematerializing corners for a unified volume.

International Style

• Definition

  • Architectural style from the 1920s and 30s, marking the beginnings of modernist architecture.

  • Term coined by Henry Russell-Hitchcock & Philip Johnson at the 1932 MoMA exhibition.

• Principles

  1. Expression of volume over mass.

  2. Preference for balance instead of symmetry.

  3. Elimination of applied ornamentation.

• Example: Lovell House, Richard Neutra (1924-1929)

  • Represents functionalism and the principle of ornamentation elimination.

Characteristics of the International Style

• Use of free floor plans and facades.

• Commitment to functionalism, honest materials, and urban well-being.

• Designs produced emotional and physical wellness impact in industrial milestones.

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe (1886-1969)

• Directorship

  • Led the Bauhaus School until its closure in 1933.

  • Earned fame in the U.S. through his partnership with Philip Johnson.

• Notable Work: German Pavilion (1929 Barcelona Exhibition)

  • Commissioned to embody the spirit of a new era.

  • Free-flowing interior anchored by a rectangular roof slab supported by chromium-plated columns.

  • Featured marble and glass interior walls, promoting the concept of fluid space.

• Notable Philosophy

  • Designed spaces using planar volumes without doors, emphasizing visual harmony and balance.

Tugendhat House, Brno, Czech Republic (1930)

• Features

  • Two-storey house entered at the top floor; living areas designed with extensive glass for views.

  • Free-standing walls and elaborate design reinforced by a structural rectangular system.

Bauhaus School

• History

  • Founded by Walter Gropius in 1919, merged arts and crafts education.

  • Relocated to Dessau in 1925 after conservative backlashes.

• Key Influences

  • Deutscher Werkbund for intelligent design and mass production.

  • De Stijl movement advocating pure abstraction.

Le Corbusier (1887-1965)

• Background

  • Influenced by ferro-concrete and steel construction, embraced cubism in design philosophy.

• Key Concepts

  • Published "Vers Une Architecture" advocating mass production in housing.

  • Developed the Maison-Domino as a building prototype for quick assembly with modular grids.

• Five Points of Architecture

  1. Pilotis: Elevation using slender posts.

  2. Open plan: Flexible interior spaces.

  3. Free facade: Facades act as skins.

  4. Horizontal windows: Better light and air.

  5. Roof garden: Utilized as recreational space.

Expressionism in Architecture

• Characteristics

  • Novel materials and innovative forms; often biomorphic in design.

• Examples

  • Goetheanum (Rudolf Steiner): Cathedral-like, uses concrete and resembles exaggerated forms.

Centennial Hall, Wroclaw, Poland (1911-1913)

• Description

  • Multi-purpose building with a massive dome.

  • Noted for its intricate structural design and capacity for large gatherings.

Erich Mendelsohn (1887-1953)

• Philosophy

  • Created dynamic forms influenced by expressionism, emphasizing modern building qualities.

Frank Lloyd Wright

• Legacy

  • Influential American architect known for over 1,000 designs and a 70-year career.

• Key Belief

  • Advocated connection with nature, emphasizing horizontal forms and integration with the landscape.

Key Works**

• Ward Willitts House: Landmark for Prairie style architecture.

• Robie House: Showcases unobstructed indoor-outdoor transition.

• Kaufmann House (Falling Water): Melds natural environment with architecture organically.

• Johnson Wax Building: First use of soft curvilinear forms.

Modernism Influence and Key Constructs**

• Guggenheim Museum: Unique spiraling form and a focus on harmonious spatial experience.

• Alvar Aalto: Utilized symbolism and function, with humanistic designs like Paimio Sanitorium and Voukensniska Church.