History of Architecture III

Desorientation and the Emergence of Industrialization

• People felt disoriented due to changes in their daily lives
• Malaise in civilization; social relationships changed
• Accelerated growth and industrialization led to a vertiginous process
• Development of railroads (first attempt failed in Liverpool and Manchester)

The Emergence of Urbanism

• Railroads became a fundamental base for urban planning
• Construction of rail networks allowed for urban vitality
• Machines and production modes changed the way cities were built
• The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason enabled the use of materials with greater rigor

Architecture and the Industrial Revolution

• Architecture had the same program as industry (parliaments, theaters, banks, hospitals, schools with greater rigor)
• High-Tech Architecture is the heir to iron and glass architecture
• Neoclassicism is a strategy that allows for different components to create different programs needed in the bourgeois city

Medieval Revivalism

• Medieval Revivalism is antagonistic to iron and glass architecture
• Ruskin, Pugin, and Morris rejected industrialization and Neoclassical architecture, advocating for manual work and a return to a harmonious society
• They designed buildings with a focus on the whole, creating a work of art

The Columbian Exposition and the Chicago School

• The Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) interrupted the development of the Chicago School
• Daniel Burnham's design for the exposition was a caricature of European classicism
• The Chicago School's architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, were set back by the exposition's interruption

The Development of Skyscrapers

• The first skyscrapers were built in Chicago, with the use of steel and elevators
• The Rookery Building (1885-1888) was a key example of the Chicago School's style
• Burnham and Root's Relliance Building (1891-1895) showcased the development of the skyscraper

Frank Lloyd Wright

• Wright's work was characterized by open spaces, natural light, and a focus on the landscape
• His designs were influenced by Japanese culture and the Prairie School
• Wright's Robie House (1906) is considered a masterpiece of the Prairie School style

Wright's Organic Architecture

• Wright's organic architecture emphasized harmony with the natural environment
• He used natural materials and developed a unique style that integrated buildings into the landscape
• Fallingwater (1935-1939) is a seminal example of Wright's organic architecture

Utopian Communities

• Charles Fourier's Phalanstery (1841) was an early example of a utopian community
• Jean Baptiste Godin's Familistery of Guise (1871) was another example of a utopian community
• These communities were characterized by a focus on social reform and alternative living arrangements

Urban Planning and Reform

• Georges Haussmann's urban planning reforms in Paris (1850s-1860s) were a response to the city's growth and congestion

• Haussmann's reforms included the creation of wide boulevards and public buildings, and were exportable to other cities.### Haussmann's Urban Planning

• Haussmann's urban planning aimed to create a modern and hygienic city, transforming Paris from a medieval to a modern model

• The plan included the creation of axial boulevards, clearing the city center, and imposing a uniform façade design (e.g., Baixa Pombalina)

• The goal was to make Paris the center of the world and prepare it for the 20th century

Cerdá's Urban Planning

• Cerdá, a Spanish urban planner, created a similar but distinct plan for Barcelona in 1855
• The plan focused on creating a city of expansion through the amplification of existing structures
• Cerdá's design included the creation of crosses and intersecting roads, initially planned for animal-drawn traffic
• His model was exported to Spain's colonies and featured public spaces within blocks

Modern Urban Planning

• Modern urban planning involves creating differentiated spaces through precise rules and effective management of space
• The 1970 plan for urban expansion in a liberal city aimed to create a modern and functional city

Expressionist Architecture

• Erich Mendelsohn's Einstein Tower (1919-21) in Berlin is an example of expressionist architecture
• The building's design features rapid, sketch-like forms, and windows resembling caverns
• Lyonel Feininger's illustration for the Bauhaus program (1919) showcases a typically expressionist design

Russian Constructivism

• Russian Constructivism is crucial for understanding contemporary architecture (last 20-40 years)
• Key architects like Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid were influenced by Russian Constructivism
• The movement began in the early 20th century, stagnated under Stalin, and was rediscovered in the 1980s
• Russian Constructivism involved experimental structures, the relationship between art and power, and the abolition of private property
• The movement aimed to create a laboratory-like space, transforming it into architecture

Key Figures and Events

• Lenin's revolution in 1917 marked the beginning of the Soviet era and the rise of Russian Constructivism
• The Agit Prop (Agitation and Propaganda) movement used posters and art to promote the revolution
• UNOVIS (1919) was a school of new art founded by Malevich, where art and architecture merged
• ASNOVA was a generation of new architects, including Landusky

Kazimir Malevich and Suprematism

• Kazimir Malevich was a key figure in Russian Constructivism and the founder of Suprematism
• Suprematism sought to create a spiritual, abstract, and non-representational art form
• Malevich's works, such as "The Woodcutter" (1912-1913) and "Black Square on White" (1914-1915), exemplify the style
• Suprematism aimed to create a sense of spirituality and the ultimate value in art