Theory and Philosophy of Modern Architecture

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Theory and Philosophy of Modern Architecture

• The Roots of Modern Architecture

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The Roots of Modern Architecture

• Defining Modern Architecture
• The Beginning of Modern Architecture
• Transformations of 3 contexts
• Cultural Transformations Neo Classical
  Architecture (1750-1900)
• Territorial Transformations Urban Development
  (1800-1909)
• Technical Transformations Structural Engineering
  (1775-1939)

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Defining Modern Architecture

• modern architecture
• General meaning new, non-traditional, current,
  contemporary
• Modern Architecture
• Specific meaning a particular period, ideology
  or styles (formalism, functionalism,
  international style, etc.)
• Modern Architecture was the expression of a
  variety of new social visions challenging the
  status quo and suggesting alternative
  possibilities for a way of life (Curtis,
  1987).

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The Beginning of Modern Architecture

• The historical process which led to the creation
  of the modern movement in architecture had no
  clear beginning which can be pinpointed with
  precision. (Curtis, 1987)
• Described differently by different historians
  (themes, styles, years, periods)
• Started with the beliefs and ideas long before
  the forms and styles
• Started as early as late 17th- century (the
  challenge to the Vitruvian proportion and the
  split between engineering and architecture)
  (Frampton, 1987)

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The Roots of Modern Architecture

• The Changing Social Contexts
• Ideology and Philosophy
• Technology
• Markets
• Clients

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Cultural Transformations Neo Classical
Architecture (1750-1900)

• The loss of confidence in Renaissance tradition
  and the supporting theories
• Development of history and archeology disciplines
  leading to the view of equal value among epochs,
  traditions and styles
• The new belief architecture should express
  their times

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New Ideology

• Suppose that an architect of the twelfth or
  thirteenth century were to return among us, and
  that he were to be initiated into our modern
  ideas if one put at his disposal the perfections
  of modern industry, he would not build an edifice
  of the time of Philip Augustus or St. Louis,
  because this would be to falsify the first law of
  art, which is to conform the needs and customs of
  the times. (Violet-le-Duc, 1863)

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The New ParadigmPrimitive Hut
All the splendors of architectural process ever
conceived have been modeled on the little rustic
hut It is by approaching the simplicity of this
first model that fundamental mistakes are avoided
and true perfection is achieved. Laugier,
1977

• A shift of taste from the Rococo
• A Return to basic and natural rationale

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The New Ideology Newtons Cenotaph (Boullee,
1784)
Pure geometry with emotions (space with light)
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Cultural Transformations Neo Classical
Architecture (1750-1900)

• The increase in mans capacity to exercise
  control over nature
• Fundamental shift in the nature of human
  consciousness (reason over belief)
• The search for the new true form
• Some Revival of the past styles (Greek, Roman,
  Gothic)

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Cultural Transformations Neo Classical
Architecture (1750-1900)

• Disrupted the world of craft
• Collapsed vernacular traditions
• Created new economic structures and center of
  power
• New clients (the middle class)
• Belief in a just and rational society
• Utopian concept

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Utopian Concept The Architects Dream (Cole,
1840)
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Territorial Transformations Urban Development
(1800-1909)

• Advanced industry
• Population increase (longer life expectancy)
• Mass production/ higher efficiency
• Concentration of production in the city core
• High density residential close to production (no
  public transportation need to stay close)
• Slum and the substandard neighborhood (higher
  density on the old infrastructure)

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Territorial Transformations Urban Development
(1800-1909)

• Upgraded working-class housing
• New housing scheme (stacking apartments in pairs
  around a common staircase)
• Improved infrastructure and living conditions
  (legal acts)
• New industrial prototypes
• The open spaces and parks
• English picturesque landscape and neo-classical
  country houses

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City Living ConditionOver London by Rail (1872)
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Territorial Transformations Urban Development
(1800-1909)

• Mass transportation (railway, underground,
  streetcars)
• Metropolitan region
• New town concept
• Linear city concept (dependent on mass transit)
• English garden city concept (complete functions
  and avoid transportation)

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Riverside, Chicago (Olmsted, 1869)
Early suburbanization
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Riverside, Chicago (Olmsted, 1869)
Natural neighborhood outside the city
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New Town Concept The Garden City (Howard,1898)
An economically self sufficient community
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Technical Transformations Structural Engineering
(1775-1939)

• Industrial revolution
• Changed production based, modes and locations
• The production of new materials (cast iron,
  reinforced concrete, glass)
• Iron construction in railways, bridge and
  industrial buildings
• The split of architecture and engineering
• The importance of the role of engineer
• New and unprecedented buildings (exhibition
  halls, offices, factories)

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Crystal Palace Under Construction, London
(Paxton, 1851)
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Brooklyn Bridge Under Construction (1877)
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Tin Mine Winding Engine at East Pool Mine,
England (1887)
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Conclusions

• Three major transformations led to new contexts ?
  new world
• Enlightenment new view toward history and styles
• The search for new form
• Rationalism
• Industrial revolution
• Technology Engineering
• New materials
• New clients

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References

• Curtis, W. (1987). Modern Architecture Since
  1900. 2nd Ed. New Jersey Prentice-Hall.
• Frampton, K. (1987). Modern Architecture A
  Critical History. London Thames and Hudson.
• Kruft, H. W. (1994). A History of Architectural
  Theory from Vitruvious to the Present. New York
  Princeton Architectural Press.