Modern Architecture: International Style and Organic Design
The International Style, although sometimes used to define the early Modern Movement (1900–1933), is now primarily associated with the more utilitarian modern forms that appeared after the closing of the Bauhaus in 1933. It also refers to the work of Le Corbusier and his followers, who, during the 1920s and 1930s, promoted a stylized, modern version of the movement that was less austere.
The International Style of Architecture
Defining Universal Design and Functionalism
The International Style is a significant current within modern architecture, seeking a universalizing design approach devoid of regional characteristics. It began to take shape in Europe between 1920 and 1930 during the interwar period. This current is a foundational source of the Modern Movement.
Factors Contributing to International Style Development
The International Style was the result of the evolution of:
- Industrialization
- Mechanical engineering
- Materials science
The use of new techniques and materials, such as reinforced concrete, allowed for the spatial breadth that characterized the interiors of buildings in this movement. Accelerated industrialization in European and American companies created the need for new building types for previously unknown uses, including:
- Office buildings
- Apartment blocks
- New factories, prepared to house large machinery and a high number of workers
The invention of reinforced concrete and improved steel alloys, as part of the evolutionary study of materials science, coupled with the development of engineering and mechanics, entailed new structural possibilities. These innovations realized higher, more resilient, more spacious, and more functional buildings.
Key Exponents and Philosophy
The movement, whose notable exponents include Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, and Le Corbusier, aimed to break the non-functional eclecticism that characterized the nineteenth century. This eclecticism fused different styles without the necessary harmonious relationship between form and utility.
Organic Architecture and Design Philosophy
Frank Lloyd Wright and the Organic Approach
Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture that promotes harmony between the human habitat and the natural world. The term "Organic Architecture" was coined by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1868–1959).
Wright achieved major success in his second period with many houses, including the iconic Fallingwater (The House of the Waterfall), and the Johnson Wax Company offices. Wright saw and promoted organic architecture as a democratic way of life, sometimes even emphasizing green design principles.
Phases and Holistic Design
This design movement was implemented in its first phase between 1931 and 1960, and then resurfaced from the 1990s to the present.
Organic design is a holistic and humanizing approach. Wright's method of work consisted of developing integrated solutions, ensuring that the whole of a unified architectural scheme created an overall effect greater than the sum of its parts.
This organic approach was crucial in determining how individual elements, such as objects or furniture, visually and functionally connected with the context of their interior location and the whole building.