Table of ContentsHistory of ModernismClean Lines and Simplified FormsOpen Floor Plan and FunctionalityThe Use of Modern Systems and MaterialsExamples of Open Floor Plans and modern materialsUse of natural light and GlassLack of ornaments and moldingsEvaluation of modern buildingsVilla Savoye by Le CorbusierBarcelona Pavilion by Mies van der RoheChapel Ronchamp by Le CorbusierBosjes Chapel, Wellington, South AfricaThe following research paper will critically address the architectural movement known as modernism. This will be done by relying on its formal, spatial, tectonic, philosophical and general contextual characteristics, to establish a theoretical framework. This framework will then be applied to the evaluation of four architectural projects, to establish the extent to which the buildings follow or differ from this framework. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Modernism can be considered a style or philosophy of architecture. This is a broad global movement known for clinging to minimalism and rejecting ornaments. Minimalism strives to spread a message of simplicity, with basic geographic shapes, simple materials and elements without decorations. (Architecture, 2017) Modernism is permeated and surrounds or has influence on futurism, De Stijl, Bauhaus and constructivism. All of these themes have an influence on modernism and help shape the theoretical framework of modernism. Modernism draws various characteristics from other influences. The main characteristics used to describe modernism are: asymmetrical compositions, use of reinforced concrete, flat roofs, use of general cubic shapes, use of ribbon windows, and absence of ornaments or moldings. (Architecture, 2017)History of ModernismAccording to various sources, modernism developed from the struggle of Romanticism against the results of the Industrial Revolution. There are three periods in which the history of modernism in architecture can be divided into three periods: being; early, modern and late. Between the 1920s and 1950s, modernism in architecture emerged, although it originated in the age of reason and growth toward higher technology. As Ela Poursani says in her book Modernism as an Answer, "The modernist motto 'A house is a machine for living', stated by Le Corbusier in 1921, refers to a building having the purity of form of a machine well designed and functional architecture like machine parts. This “aesthetics of the machine” derived from Descartes defines one of the central concepts of modernism.” (Poursani, 2003)This statement by Ela Poursani is supported by many renowned architects, as it describes one of the concepts related to modernism. Many architects have had to adapt their way of thinking and designing due to the industrial revolution and the great use of machines across the world. Many architects said then that they did not follow any style, because modernism was more than a style, it was a new vision of the world, stimulated by a new way of considering time and space. Modern designers in the 1920s began to adapt to the possibilities of mass production and new technologies. The central theme of modernism then becomes the aesthetics of the machine. Two architects then began to promote this language, namely; Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. (Anthony S. Denzer, 2004)Clean lines and simplified shapesSimplicity inshape and design represents the “modern look”. Basic shapes, shapes and clean lines create an abstraction on which modern architecture is based. Therefore, the characteristics of modernism are simple, geometric shapes, simple rectangular shapes and linear elements. This can be seen in the Weissenhof Siedlung building, which will be evaluated in more detail later in the research paper. (Anthony S. Denzer, 2004)Open Floor Plan and FunctionalityFunctionality is also a term that characterizes the form of a modern building. Functionality means that things are built or made for a specific purpose. The saying “Form follows function” best defines the term functionality. The concept of an open floor plan is closely related to functionality. One of the hallmarks of modernism is allowing multiple work and living spaces to not be separate spaces but rather to function as a multi-use space. (Norberg-Schultz, 1950) The use of modern systems and materials Modernism is well known for using modern materials like reinforced concrete and steel columns, which was not possible before the industrial revolution. Steel columns are often exposed and concrete blocks are used as a finishing material as well as a structural material. Concrete floors emphasize the use of mass concrete in modern buildings. Modern systems, such as steel trusses that span long distances, allow for open floor plans, as the spaces would be column-free. Modern systems such as radiant heating systems increase human thermal comfort in buildings. (buildings, 2018) Examples of Open Floor Plans and Modern Materials Use of Natural Light and Glass In modernism, windows are no longer small frames used to peek outside, but rather a much larger glass deployed from floor to ceiling. This provides natural light that penetrates far inside the house and introduces spectacular views through light. These glass windows vary from large windows to horizontal ribbon windows. Ribbon windows are an expression of the facade suspended from the frame. This created a break in the load-bearing exterior walls which were not only the structure but also the facade. These horizontal windows could not be associated with traditional enclosures but became the symbol of a new direction in modern architecture. (Merleau-Ponty, 1945)Lack of ornaments and moldingsThe clean aesthetic is a well-known characteristic of modernism. Removing elaborate trim and decorative moldings results in a clean aesthetic as materials meet in simple but well-executed joints. Ornaments and moldings are used for decorations. In the past, it was a trend because people thought that ornaments were the beauty of buildings. In the 19th century, however, Adolf Loof (a modernist architect) asserted that “ornament is a crime.” In his essay “Ornament is a Crime,” he states that ornaments are a social crime because they destroy the function and potential of materials. To me, ornament is unnecessary and has no function in a building. In modernism, simplicity is beauty, so ornamentation is not necessary. Simple forms of materials have more function and purpose than moldings and ornaments. (Loof, 1956)Assessment of modern buildingsLe Corbusier's Villa SavoyeThe Villa Savoye is a key building in the development of the modernist movement. It is one of the very rare houses in France to have beendeclared a National Monument during Le Corbusier's lifetime. The Savoye family contacted Le Corbusier to design a weekend vacation home for them, making it the final building in Le Corbusier's "White Villas" series. The holiday home is located on land in Poissy, a small town outside Paris, in an open field formerly surrounded by woods. Le Corbusier's five points of architecture were evident in this building as he had the freedom to explore these points due to the minimal restrictions imposed by the client. Key features he considered necessary for modern architecture include: The building raised off the ground by piles Open interiors A free façade independent of the building's supporting structures A flat roof capable of being occupied as a terrace and garden Ribbon windows for the ventilation and natural lighting Villa Savoye also shows Le Corbusier's strong conviction in the house as a "machine for living". This belief is expressed through spatial planning, as spaces are arranged to offer a minimalist aesthetic and help maximize efficiency. The sliding curved glazing at ground level was derived from the turning radius concept of 1929 cars. This allowed the owner to pass under the larger volume and park easily in the built-in garage. This also refers to Le Corbusier's interest in automobile design. A line of thin white-painted concrete columns supports the upper level. The lower lever, however, is then recessed and is painted green to resemble the surrounding forests. This creates the illusion of a volume floating above the lower level. A common trait in Le Corbusier's work and a feature used to define modernism are window bands. This is integrated into the building to allow them to open onto each other and is placed on the upper level in the middle of the facade to let as much light as possible into the interior of the building. The different characteristics defined within the framework of modernism are evident in this project, which is why it succeeds in following this framework. (Ford, 1928 to 1988)Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der RoheMies van der Rohe's German Pavilion at the Barcelona World's Fair, known simply as the Barcelona Pavilion, was designed and built around twenty years ago before his home Fransworth. The main concept that Ludwig Mies van der Rohe tried to apply when designing this project is “Less is more”. This is expressed by using as few components as possible while offering the possibility of multi-use rooms and well-organized functional spaces. This goes hand in hand with the simplicity which is the key characteristic of modernism. The Barcelona Pavilion has a low horizontal orientation which is highlighted by the low flat roof which gives the illusion that the roof is floating on both the interior and exterior of the building. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe took his idea from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, he learned that these were rectilinear spaces whose shapes were entirely defined. The shapes were then joined to form an open plan, giving the same appearance to the exterior and interior of the pavilion. This is what made him realize that less is more. The building's structure consists of eight cross-shaped steel pillars to support the flat roof. Large glass structures fill the interior and create the interior walls. The grid system designed by Mies serves not only as the underlying framework for the working systems, but also as a template for laying travertine paving stones. Horizontal planes are broken up by vertical planes of marble and glass that appear self-contained in an open floor plan. That.