Modernism (International Style)

Villa Savoye is a family home by Le Corbusier constructed with modern materials such
as reinforced concrete used for walls, floors, pillars and ramps. The home is designed
with a focus on function first and design second. As a result, no space is wasted. This
is an excellent example of the international style due to its use of pilotis (support
columns), an open plan, a free façade, long windows and a roof garden.
Pilotis are support columns which are used to raise the house off the ground which
created space for parking and storage, typical of the international style. This elevated
design created a sense of lightness and openness.
The open plan design meant that the interior walls were no longer restricted by
structural needs which allows for a walls to be build in any shape or pattern, this
maximised space and light within the home.
A free façade meant that the entrance could be thin membranes like the interior walls.
In this building the façade uses continuous ribbon windows, resulting in a sense of
continuity between the interior and exterior of the building.
The long windows of the international style allowed a maximum amount of natural
light into the building as possible. This building uses long horizontal bands of glass
which connects the interior to the landscape surrounding the building.
The roof garden is an excellent example of the international style’s focus on function.
Since the roofs of buildings could now be flat, they could also be functional. In this
building a garden on the roof was added to make the roof functional.
The Modern International Style aimed to be functional, simple and rectangular and
involved with contemporary technology. This building makes use of all of these. It is
functional with maximising space, elevating the house to allow for parking and using
the roof as a garden. It is simple with its rectangular design and involves
contemporary technology such as reinforced concrete, which was new at the time and
allowed for open spaces and hanging elements, and expansive glass windows, which
connects the interior and exterior.
Late Modernism (High Tech)
The Pompidou Centre is a multi-functional cultural building in the Late Modern and
High Tech style by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. It is constructed mainly of a
massive exposed steel frame which eliminates the need for internal support columns,
creating huge open spaces. Reinforced concrete slabs are used in the floors to
complement the steel structure. Extensive glass panes are used to allow natural light
into the building. The purpose of the building is to be a centre for arts and culture,
with exhibition facilities, an art museum and public library. This is an excellent
example of Late Modernism due to its focus on function, little decorative features and
historical references, emphasis on technology, public space, and flexibility.
The focus on function over appearance can be seen in the exposed steel frame which
results in a large open area inside the building since internal support columns are no
longer needed.
As with most Late Modernism buildings, this building lacks decoration and instead
relies on the raw materials such as steel and glass which are used to add beauty to
the building. This gives the building a sense of magnificence.
Late Modernist building welcomed new technologies. Examples of this include the
steel frames and brightly coloured service elements, such as red tubes for elevators
and blue for air conditioners. The use of bright colour coded structural and service
elements are often seen in buildings of this style. This shows the buildings advanced
engineering and use of new technologies, further adding to the sense of
magnificence.
This building is designed to be a public place with large surrounding plazas and easy
access for people with the exterior escalator. The exterior escalator makes the
building easily accessible which again shows how Late Modernist buildings are
focused on function.
Without needing internal supports, large open floor plans are created. This allows for
future changes in the layout if needed, making the building flexible.
This building’s innovative design using new technologies and materials while still
focussing on function can be seen throughout High Tech and Late Modernism
architecture.
Post-Modernism
Portland Public Services Building is a Post-Modernist building by Michael Graves. The
building is used as a municipal office building and makes use of materials such as, a
reinforced concrete frame for structural stability, a granite base and painted steel
panels. The building is fifteen stories high with aluminium windows placed across the
façade allowing natural light into the offices. This building is a good example of Post-
Modernism for its focus on form rather than function, references to other styles,
symbolism, connection to the surrounding and decorative features.
Post-Modernism moves away from the simplicity of Modernism and focuses on form
and appearance rather than function. This can be seen in the oversized elements on
the front of the building and the teal base of the building which contrasts with the
beige walls.
The building also makes use of abstract details which reference classical architecture
which can often be seen in Post-Modernism.
This building makes use of symbolism such as broken front of the roofline which could
resemble a crown. The oversized and exaggerated features in this building show how
Post-Modernist architecture breaks away from the function-focused Modernism.
The building has a connection to its surroundings, such as the base of the building,
the green glass and blue accents which could be connected to the design and natural
colour scheme of a nearby park’s scenery and the blue of the sky. This makes the
buildings less isolated from their surroundings which was typical of the Post-Modernist
style.
Like many Post-Modernist buildings, this building has many decorative features such
as the exaggerated features, blue roof and green glass used on the front. This breaks
away from the minimalism we saw in Modernist buildings.
The bold design, abstract details and references seen in this building break away from
Modernism and challenges the idea of what a traditional government building should
look like, making this building a good example of Post-Modernism.
Deconstructivism
The Guggenheim Museum is an art museum designed by Frank Gehry dedicated to
the exhibition of modern and contemporary art. The building is made using titanium
panels due to their lightweight, durability and reflective appearance. The panels are
supported with galvanized steel frames and use glass and limestone. The building
forms complex shapes that would only be possible using computer-aided design, like
many other deconstructivism buildings, which creates a unique appearance. This is an
excellent example of deconstructivism due to its use of fragmentation, discontinuity,
use of line, use of materials and the blending of the interior and exterior.
Fragmentation can be seen in this building with the seemingly disconnected shapes.
This breaks away form the traditionally symmetrical forms seen in architecture and
gives the building a disharmonious appearance which was regularly seen in
Deconstructivism.
The curving walls and slanted forms add to the feeling of disharmony by creating a
discontinuity and making the viewer question the stability of the building. This
complex design was another characteristic seen in Deconstructivism.
The use of curved lines rather than straight lines is another defining feature of this
style which breaks away from the traditionally rectangular and grid layout of buildings
before this.
The building makes use of contrasting materials such as titanium and glass create a
sense of tension and adds to the disharmony.
The curves of the titanium panels bend around the building which blends the interior
and exterior of the building, another popular feature of Deconstructivism.
The dramatic curves and fragmented forms together with the complex design and
sense of disharmony seen throughout are all seen in Deconstructivism buildings.