What Is Modern Architecture - Definition, Interpretation and Personal Opinion

Some movements make such a great impact on the world that they are irreversible. Should you later wish to take a reverse step or two, you´ll discover the movement have altered our way of thinking so profoundly it´s nearly impossible to go back. All you can do is try to find new paths that maintain the values you seem to have lost along the way.

Modernism started out as a revolutionary movement in the wake of the industrial age. It was a way of embracing the ideology of functionalism, while simultaneously rejecting tradition and history. Due to the Industrialization our methods of building evolved and made it possible to make constructions out of steel, glass, and concrete the world had never seen before. The Eiffel Tower, which impressed everybody beyond words when it was erected for the Universal Exposition in 1889, marked the beginning of Modernism.

Style icons like Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and many more, made brilliant contributions to our heritage in the name of Modern Architecture, which also answered to the names of the International Style and Functionalism, among others. Under slogans like "Less is More" and "Form follows Function" Modernists promoted ideals like simplicity in design, rationalism in use of materials, and functionalism in planning. Although some of their buildings were said to be uninhabitable, like beautiful pieces of abstract art, they were certainly symbols of the new world.

The era of Modern Architecture is said to end in the mid seventies, when it was replaced by the post modernist movement, but the impact of this epoch is still spreading its ripple effects in the world today. Rational ways of building in steel, concrete, and glass, in a sparse and simplistic style; I´d say Modernism is still very much alive and kicking.

Unfortunately, the sophisticated poetic styles of the guru´s have all but disappeared, leaving a never-ending quest for profit and self promotion, like we see in the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong, completed in 2003.

The answer to the question of WHY we build tall buildings like this seems to be: "because we can!" Modernist Alvar Aalto said about Modern Architecture: "it does not mean the use of immature new materials; the main thing is to refine materials in a more human direction." Is that what is going on when our building get higher and higher due to economical considerations?

We seem to have forgotten that the proportions of the human body should be the decisive factor in designing and building our houses. Le Corbusier knew precisely the dimensions of the human body when he designed his beautiful chapel Notre Dame du Haut in the fifties.

However, some of his other ideas were not so sympathetic, and have unfortunately been all the more influential, such as the "Plan Voisin" for Paris. He pictured high-rise apartment complexes, and he planned to level the historical buildings of the area to the ground in order to develop this new area of the city.

Our monolithic landmarks after the industrial revolution too often serve our egos and mammon, whereas in earlier times the signature buildings would be places of spiritual worship or places that served society (e.g. cathedrals or city halls). "We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us" Sir Winston Churchill so wisely said: and this thought makes me worried about the direction humankind is headed.

Connie Hendseth is a self employed architect from Norway, living the sweet life in Italy, writing articles about home improvement and architecture, and managing her online architectural practice. Visit the site http://versatilearchitect.com/ for more.

Climate Adapted Buildings - The Modern Paradox

One of the major functions of a building is to provide shelter from the climatic rigors, which may vary tremendously throughout the seasons and across the world. A building must be adapted to the local climatic conditions. This results in a great difference between a building in a tropical climate in the South, as opposed to one in the colder climate of the North.

The skin of the building.

The outer layer of a building compares to the layer of skin on the human body in many ways. It breathes, perspires, cools you down, and heats you up, according to the climatic conditions.

The cold gives the skin goose bumps and the body starts to shiver to produce more heat, and the skin of the building close up to preserve the temperature as the inner sources of heat are turned up. And, the heat makes you get undressed to expose your bare skin to the cooling breeze, and the windows and doors of your house are opened up to allow a draft to fly through and cool it down.

Clothing for any weather.

The temperatures may vary across the seasons as much as 70-80 degrees Celsius on extremes. It poses quite a challenge to build houses that are adaptable and comfortable in all kinds of temperatures. In addition there are the geographical and seasonal variations of extreme wind, rain, snow and sunshine to consider.

It is like finding one set of clothes that you have to wear all year around, no matter what the weather is actually like. Unlike the layer of skin, which you protect with another layer of clothes, the outer layer of your buildings stays put (even though you can open the doors and windows). Imagine wearing an all-year wind jacket, rain suit, down jacket, and a breezy summer dress, all at once!

The static nature of buildings.

A building cannot shed its outer layer of clothing, or switch from a thick wool sweater to a wind jacket when it is appropriate, so you need to take it all into consideration simultaneously. A building must provide an indoor environment with stable temperatures, which protects you from the wind, snow, rain, and sun, all year around!

A well known solution.

A well-ventilated earth hollow with a hearth does this superbly, and it is not without reason that the soil cave is the oldest and most widely used piece of architecture in history. It is cheap and easily built, and it is 100% ecological (when well-ventilated)!

The paradox.

Human beings of today are not prone to considering the earthen cave an ideal dwelling. The list of demands put on our architecture seems to be never-ending. In addition to provide shelter from the climatic forces our houses are also symbols of status. As such they need to be fresh and stylish, which, lets face it, earth isn`t. Throughout history the need to shock and impress with our buildings have moved humankind further and further away from the simple solution of the earthen cave, but the climatic rigors still prevail.

As opposed to buildings made of earth, Modern Architecture is often built of materials that balances temperatures poorly, that do not "breathe" or let out humidity, and that emit toxins to the indoor environment. Therefore the problem of poor indoor air quality have become one of Modernisms greatest challenges in the building industry.

Padded balloons on life support.

To compensate for this problem, our buildings are getting equipped with increasingly complex ventilation systems that regulate the quality and temperature of the indoor air. In order for these technical installations to work properly windows and doors must be kept closed at all times!

You may wonder whether our buildings have seized be supplements to our skin and clothing, and instead turned into hermetically sealed, technically dependent, living machines.

Connie Hendseth is a freelance architect from Norway, with diverse experience in the field of architecture. On her website Versatile Architect she provides useful and entertaining info about architecture and home improvement for her readers. Visit her site today and subscribe for updates!