Modern Architecture Characteristics and Themes

Style in Architecture

• Reflects visual and structural characteristics of buildings in a specific era.
• Influenced by cultural, historical, and technological trends.

11 Characteristics of Modern Architecture

• Minimalism and simplicity.
• Emphasis on function.
• Use of new materials such as concrete, steel, and glass.
• Rejection of ornamentation.
• Open floor plans.
• Large, horizontal windows.
• Industrial aesthetic.
• Flat roofs.
• Integration with nature.
• Asymmetrical forms.
• Focus on innovative structure.

15 Conditions of the Modern Period

• Industrialization
• Urbanization
• Technological advances
• Cultural shifts
• Individualism
• Rationalism
• Secularism
• Democracy
• Mass production
• Mobility
• Communication revolution
• Market economy
• Colonial influences
• War effects
• Rise of the professional architect

8 Themes of Modern Architecture

• Functionalism
• Minimalism
• Standardization
• Expressionism
• Rationalism
• Technology
• Social improvement
• Environmental sensitivity

Thomas Cole's "The Dream of the Architect"

• Allegorically explores the architect's visionary role.
• Contrasts architectural beauty with societal dreams.

Futurism

• Originated in early 20th-century Italy.
• Spearheaded by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
• Celebrated speed, technology, and modernity.
• Sought to capture dynamic movement and energy.

Manifesto of Futurism

• Glorifies technology and speed.
• Promotes aggressive and anarchist ideals.
• Urges discarding traditional forms while embracing modern technology.

Expression of Movement in Art and Architecture

• Futurists used dynamic lines, fragmented forms, and elongated shapes to convey motion.
• Their aim was to depict the energy and vitality of urban life.

Characteristics of Futuristic Architecture

• Dynamic forms.
• Asymmetry.
• Innovation in materials and structure.
• Expressive facades.
• Integration of technology into aesthetic expression.

Modern Architecture: One European Version — Le Corbusier

• Three reminders to architects:
  • Mass: Volume and proportion are essential.
  • Surface: Clean lines with minimal decoration.
  • Plan: Organizational logic, clarity, and utility in layout.

Regulating Lines

• Le Corbusier's concept uses geometric lines as compositional guides.
• Ensures balance and proportion in design.

Airplane Quote Explanation

• Le Corbusier compared logical problem-solving in engineering with architecture.
• Advocated for functionally driven design.
• "The house is a machine for living in."

"The House is a Machine for Living In" and “Architecture or Revolution”

• Proposed efficient, industrialized housing to improve living conditions.
• Aimed to avoid social upheaval.

Influences of Auguste Perret and Tony Garnier on Le Corbusier

• Perret's use of reinforced concrete heavily shaped his vision.
• Garnier's urban planning and functional aesthetics influenced Le Corbusier.

Le Corbusier’s Mass Housing Model and Five Points

• Five Points:
  • Pilotis (support columns).
  • Free design of the ground plan.
  • Free facade design.
  • Horizontal windows.
  • Roof gardens.
• This model allowed for efficient, modular housing in urban settings.

Greek Architecture vs. Automobiles

• Le Corbusier likened the perfection of form in both, celebrating timeless functional design.

Engineer’s Aesthetic and Architecture

• Promoted the idea that architects should learn from engineers, emphasizing logic and functionality.

Idealist and Rationalist Approach Combination

• Combined emotional expression (Idealism) with logical, functional design (Rationalism) for balanced architecture.
• Revolution and Social Housing: Le Corbusier saw industrialized buildings as a means to address social housing shortages, thereby avoiding societal unrest.

Modern Architecture: One U.S. Version - Frank Lloyd Wright

• Wright viewed machines positively, valuing their ability to enhance craftsmanship and enable organic forms.

Principles of Organic Architecture

• Architecture harmonizes with its environment.
• Has unity.
• Considers nature's patterns.
• Prioritizes human needs.

Usonian Houses

• Removed basements and attics.
• Added open floor plans and minimal ornamentation.
• Aimed to create affordable, efficient homes.

Five Characteristics of International Style

• Simple geometric forms.
• Glass, steel, and concrete materials.
• Lack of decoration.
• Flat surfaces.
• Open interiors.

Individual Level Spatial Process

• Personal Space: The invisible boundaries individuals maintain around themselves, with dimensions that vary by culture and context (intimate, personal, social, public).

Factors Influencing Personal Space

• Culture.
• Personality.
• Situational factors.
• Interpersonal relationships.

Behavior Settings

• Environmental contexts influencing behavior, involving four aspects:
  • Physical environment.
  • Fixed features.
  • Specific patterns.
  • Activities.

Functions of Personal Space

• Privacy.
• Security.
• Comfort in social settings.

Position as Power in Group Settings

• Physical positioning reflects implicit power dynamics within groups, such as seating arrangement in meetings.

Group Level Spatial Process: Territoriality and Defensible Space

• Territoriality: Claiming and defending space, serving privacy, control, and identity purposes.

Territory Types

• Primary: Owned, personal spaces (homes).
• Secondary: Shared but regularly used (classrooms).
• Public: Open to all (parks).

Personalization in Architecture

• Adding personal touches in shared spaces to enhance identity and control.

Defensible Space and CPTED

• Designing spaces to promote safety and deter crime (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).
• Example: Housing designs that encourage social surveillance.

Sociofugal and Sociopetal Spaces

• Sociofugal: Discourages interaction (rows in a theater).
• Sociopetal: Encourages social interaction (café tables).

Human Aspects: Cognition, Wayfinding, Ecological and Gestalt Psychology

• Affordances Perception: How individuals perceive action possibilities in their environment.

Sensation, Perception, Cognition

• Sensation (raw data).
• Perception (interpretation).
• Cognition (thinking process).

Environmental Cognition

• Understanding and processing information about surroundings, linked to spatial cognition for navigation.

Gestalt Psychology Principles

• Examines perception as wholes, with principles like proximity and similarity relevant in design.

Wayfinding in Architecture

• The ease of navigating environments through clear, well-planned layouts and signage.

Space Syntax - A Social Logic

• Five Main Ideas of Space Syntax:
  • Configuration.
  • Independence from pure geometry.
  • Spatial continuity.
  • Local and global relational rules.
  • Hierarchical organization.

Relations in Space Syntax

• Includes physical and social connectivity in space.

Depth in Space Syntax Theory

• Describes the relative spatial access or isolation of areas.

Social Hierarchy of Space

• Space is organized based on social interaction levels, with core public spaces leading to private areas.

Others

• Personal Space vs. Territoriality: Personal space is a mobile boundary, while territoriality is fixed. In architecture, these influence space allocation for privacy and social functions.

Relevance of Ciba Geigy Building

• Emphasized the efficient and thoughtful integration of working spaces in modern industrial design.

Positive vs. Normative Theories

• Positive theories explain and predict phenomena, while normative theories establish how things should ideally be.