Beaux Arts and Neo Gothic, now this two are together since Beaux Arts, a part of the neoclassical era, and Gothic Revival or Neo Gothic were concurrent, meaning, this two styles were born at almost at the same time so it is only natural to be comparing them with one another.
Neoclassical is further subdivided into three periods but I will only focus on one which is incidentally the last one, The Beaux-Arts, it was essentially a style developed by the French between the 18th century and the 19th century. Parallel to this is of course was Neo-Gothic which was born in England at around the same time.
Now, Neo gothic is a movement that can be considered as a manifestation of Romanticism. Since it is evident in the works at that time the romantic inclination to medieval nostalgia and the nature of the Gothic Style. This movement is divided into two phases, the "decorative" and "authentic" phase, the decorative phase is somewhat a dream of noblemen, at that time, to live in castles and live like royalty. The authentic phase however veered into the achievement of structural authenticity during which the style was heavily employed on structures especially churches and public buildings. Example of this is one that would most of us would know since the Royal Family of Britain is all over the news, The Westminster Palace.
Beaux-Arts even though is at the end of the Neoclassical era it was still very significant, one could say that it finished of the Neoclassical era with a bang and confetti. A typical structure for this movement is that it is mostly a rectangular block with a ground story and a very tall second story and the second story would feature a repeating texture of towering columns and arches. Beaux-Arts movement had an exuberance on detail and variety of stone finishes. Outside France, Beaux-Arts flourished in the United States. A good example of Beaux-Art style is the Library of Sainte-Geneviève
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution. This is a period where many achievements and innovations in technology were developed. However the Industrial Revolution did not happen by itself, it was a gradual process. First, were the arrival of the machines that replaced the work of hand, the use of steam and later other kinds of sources for power and finally the adoption of the factory system.
It is all due to industrial revolution that we have such luxuries today. An example would be electricity, television, radios, telephones, cars, airplanes and much more. All those that we think are so common now would all disappear if not for industrial revolution. It has brought man ways in order to produce more work in much more efficient way. Even though the Industrial Revolution happened only in such a short span of time, a lot of new innovations were made compared to how long most of the work was done manually. The revolution made it possible to use new and faster processes for manufacturing and transportation.
Now, If you're asking how this would have affected architecture. Well, in general, I believe that since manufacturing became faster and maybe much cheaper this provided opportunities for architects at that time to be not constrained on just a few number of materials, since delivery would only take days or weeks instead of months. So construction was a boom, and I can imagine that a lot of structures are being built at that time because of the innovations that Industrial Revolution has made. So, in conclusion, I think without Industrial Revolution, architecture and even other professions would not have evolved to what it is today and I think we would be still stuck in manual labor.
It is all due to industrial revolution that we have such luxuries today. An example would be electricity, television, radios, telephones, cars, airplanes and much more. All those that we think are so common now would all disappear if not for industrial revolution. It has brought man ways in order to produce more work in much more efficient way. Even though the Industrial Revolution happened only in such a short span of time, a lot of new innovations were made compared to how long most of the work was done manually. The revolution made it possible to use new and faster processes for manufacturing and transportation.
Now, If you're asking how this would have affected architecture. Well, in general, I believe that since manufacturing became faster and maybe much cheaper this provided opportunities for architects at that time to be not constrained on just a few number of materials, since delivery would only take days or weeks instead of months. So construction was a boom, and I can imagine that a lot of structures are being built at that time because of the innovations that Industrial Revolution has made. So, in conclusion, I think without Industrial Revolution, architecture and even other professions would not have evolved to what it is today and I think we would be still stuck in manual labor.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Pioneering Master of Modern Architecture
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or most commonly referred to as Mies by colleagues, friends and students sought to establish a new architectural style that would represent Modern times. He created an architectural style based on his philosophy "skin and bones". He made use of materials such as industrial steel and plate glass in order to define interior spaces. He wanted his architecture to have minimal framework balanced against the freedom of free - flowing space. He is often associated with "Less is more" and "God is in the details"
Born in Aachen, Germany in 1886, he worked for his father in their family's stone carving business before joining the office of Bruno Paul in Berlin and afterwards the studio Peter Behrens. He worked at Peter Behrens from 1908 to 1912. Under the latter's influence Mies developed an approach based on advanced structural techniques and Prussian Classicism. He was also a supporter of the Russian Constructivism and Dutch De Stijl Group. He borrowed ideas from Karl Schinkel especially in the post and lintel construction for his designs in steel and glass.
The Magazine G which started in July 1923, Mies was a part of that and made significant contributions to architectural philosophies of the late 1920's and 1930's as the artistic director of Weissonhof project and as the director of the Bauhaus. Famous for his line "Less is more", Mies strived to create spaces that are contemplative and neutral through a style that is based on material honesty and the integrity of the structure. In the last twenty years of his life Mies achieved his philospohy of "Skin and Bone" his later works showed that he was really dedicated into creating works that have the idea of a universal and simplified architecture.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe died in 1969 at Chicago, Illinois
Born in Aachen, Germany in 1886, he worked for his father in their family's stone carving business before joining the office of Bruno Paul in Berlin and afterwards the studio Peter Behrens. He worked at Peter Behrens from 1908 to 1912. Under the latter's influence Mies developed an approach based on advanced structural techniques and Prussian Classicism. He was also a supporter of the Russian Constructivism and Dutch De Stijl Group. He borrowed ideas from Karl Schinkel especially in the post and lintel construction for his designs in steel and glass.
The Magazine G which started in July 1923, Mies was a part of that and made significant contributions to architectural philosophies of the late 1920's and 1930's as the artistic director of Weissonhof project and as the director of the Bauhaus. Famous for his line "Less is more", Mies strived to create spaces that are contemplative and neutral through a style that is based on material honesty and the integrity of the structure. In the last twenty years of his life Mies achieved his philospohy of "Skin and Bone" his later works showed that he was really dedicated into creating works that have the idea of a universal and simplified architecture.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe died in 1969 at Chicago, Illinois
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Frank Lloyd Wright, Greatest Of All Time (in America)
Regarded as the Greatest American Architect of all time, a feat that is no doubt worthy of praise. Frank Lloyd Wright believing that "space within a building is the reality of that building" became one of the most prolific and influential architect of the 20th century. As one of the founders of modern architecture in America . Frank Lloyd Wright harnessed the power of new technology in order to build last century's most influential and iconic buildings. A career that lasted for 70 years, those 7 decades were all productive for Mr. Wright designing over 1000 buildings of which over 400 were built. Frank Lloyd Wright is really the Greatest of All Time.
Completing works like the Falling Water in Pennsylvania and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. One can really see that Frank Lloyd Wright created a unique language of architecture that does not only commune with the people but also with nature.
The eldest child in the Wright Family with two younger sisters as siblings. Frank Lloyd Wright was not really a Lloyd but rather a Lincoln. His original name was Frank Lincoln Wright however due to the divorce of his Parents when he was 14. He never saw his Father again and instead chose to honor his mother's welsh family which were the Lloyd Joneses. Due to the separation of his parents and as the eldest and only male in the family, Frank Lloyd Wright assumed the mantle of responsibility for his mother and siblings.
At 18, Wright studied in the University of Wisconsin pursuing a degree in engineering however desperate to pursue another career which is architecture. He dropped out of Wisconsin and went to Chicago where he immediately found work in the firm of Joseph Silsbee however this was only for a short time since Wright's ambition took him to the firm of his soon to be mentor, Louis Sullivan of the Adler & Sullivan Firm. Louis Sullivan became a great influence on Frank Lloyd Wright, Wright's ideas was molded during his time with Sullivan who put him in charge of the residential projects of the firm. However in 1893, Wright was asked to leave the firm because he pursued to much private work and at the young age of 26 started his own practice.
Wright developed the Prairie Style of Architecture in the next 16 years after he started his own practice. The Prairie Stye of Wright aimed to create the true North American architecture but Wright also drew inspiration from other sources such as Europe, The British Arts & Crafts, Japanese Architecture and Culture of Pre - Columbian America. By looking back at the roots of America, Wright was able to create work with a sense of national identity.
Wright most mature form of expression for the Prairie Style can be seen most especially in the 1906 Robie House in Chicago. Wright also built the 1905 Unity Temple even with a scarce budget. He was able to create a space that intimate even though it had to seat 400 people. Not all were good times for Frank Lloyd Wright he also experienced downs in his life especially with his relationships, leaving his first wife for the wife of a client and then afterwards his wife was murdered by a chef who burned down their house but Wright even though experiencing this turbulence in his life was still commissioned to work for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and while in Japan, Wright also received work from Aline Barnsdell to create a house, shops and a theatre complex in Los Angeles however only the Hollyhock House, of which the design is heavily attributed to Mayan Temples hinting Wright's interest to it at that time, and Residences A and B were built.
By 1922, Wright returned to the U.S. and married again, his third, to Miriam Noel whom he has been with ever since the death of his second wife. After completing some work in the U.S. Wright decided that there is no future for him there and returned to Taliesin. However another fire destroyed much of Taliesin and put Wright into debt. He also ended his marriage with his third wife and remarried again this time with Oligivanna Hinzenburg. Wright used this period to establish an architecture school namely, the Taliesin Fellowship he taught his student to balance academics with working the land and helping out the community. With help of his students, wright was able to work on much larger scale work such as the Broadacre City project and Usonian House project. By this time Wright rephrased the words of his mentor, Louis Sullivan, from "form follows function" he changed it to "form and functions are one"also by this time the Herbert Jacobs House was completed showing that the Usonian House template has been perfected by Wright.
Wright most famous residential commission did not come from the Broadacre City project nor the Usonian House project but with the one the Kaufmanns commissioned him to do which was the Falling Water. The Falling water project showed how Wright can completely unify elements from nature with his structure. As Frank Lloyd Wright has said "A good building makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built." The Falling water was true testament to this quote, The falling water really made the landscape more beautiful than it was before. However this would not be his most famous work, he would still create one more that was for the history books and it was the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Wright envisioned this a continuous ramp circling around the center of the interior. However even at Wright's death in 1959 the building still wasn't built and it took 6 months before it was finished. Wright was remembered not because of his decades of work but because he was an ever evolving architect changing his style to adapt the time period he was on but he was most remembered because of his emotional response to unify architecture and its environment which makes Frank Lloyd Wright so relevant up until today.
Completing works like the Falling Water in Pennsylvania and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. One can really see that Frank Lloyd Wright created a unique language of architecture that does not only commune with the people but also with nature.
The eldest child in the Wright Family with two younger sisters as siblings. Frank Lloyd Wright was not really a Lloyd but rather a Lincoln. His original name was Frank Lincoln Wright however due to the divorce of his Parents when he was 14. He never saw his Father again and instead chose to honor his mother's welsh family which were the Lloyd Joneses. Due to the separation of his parents and as the eldest and only male in the family, Frank Lloyd Wright assumed the mantle of responsibility for his mother and siblings.
At 18, Wright studied in the University of Wisconsin pursuing a degree in engineering however desperate to pursue another career which is architecture. He dropped out of Wisconsin and went to Chicago where he immediately found work in the firm of Joseph Silsbee however this was only for a short time since Wright's ambition took him to the firm of his soon to be mentor, Louis Sullivan of the Adler & Sullivan Firm. Louis Sullivan became a great influence on Frank Lloyd Wright, Wright's ideas was molded during his time with Sullivan who put him in charge of the residential projects of the firm. However in 1893, Wright was asked to leave the firm because he pursued to much private work and at the young age of 26 started his own practice.
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| Source: http://designmuseum.org |
Wright most mature form of expression for the Prairie Style can be seen most especially in the 1906 Robie House in Chicago. Wright also built the 1905 Unity Temple even with a scarce budget. He was able to create a space that intimate even though it had to seat 400 people. Not all were good times for Frank Lloyd Wright he also experienced downs in his life especially with his relationships, leaving his first wife for the wife of a client and then afterwards his wife was murdered by a chef who burned down their house but Wright even though experiencing this turbulence in his life was still commissioned to work for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and while in Japan, Wright also received work from Aline Barnsdell to create a house, shops and a theatre complex in Los Angeles however only the Hollyhock House, of which the design is heavily attributed to Mayan Temples hinting Wright's interest to it at that time, and Residences A and B were built.
By 1922, Wright returned to the U.S. and married again, his third, to Miriam Noel whom he has been with ever since the death of his second wife. After completing some work in the U.S. Wright decided that there is no future for him there and returned to Taliesin. However another fire destroyed much of Taliesin and put Wright into debt. He also ended his marriage with his third wife and remarried again this time with Oligivanna Hinzenburg. Wright used this period to establish an architecture school namely, the Taliesin Fellowship he taught his student to balance academics with working the land and helping out the community. With help of his students, wright was able to work on much larger scale work such as the Broadacre City project and Usonian House project. By this time Wright rephrased the words of his mentor, Louis Sullivan, from "form follows function" he changed it to "form and functions are one"also by this time the Herbert Jacobs House was completed showing that the Usonian House template has been perfected by Wright.
Wright most famous residential commission did not come from the Broadacre City project nor the Usonian House project but with the one the Kaufmanns commissioned him to do which was the Falling Water. The Falling water project showed how Wright can completely unify elements from nature with his structure. As Frank Lloyd Wright has said "A good building makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built." The Falling water was true testament to this quote, The falling water really made the landscape more beautiful than it was before. However this would not be his most famous work, he would still create one more that was for the history books and it was the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Wright envisioned this a continuous ramp circling around the center of the interior. However even at Wright's death in 1959 the building still wasn't built and it took 6 months before it was finished. Wright was remembered not because of his decades of work but because he was an ever evolving architect changing his style to adapt the time period he was on but he was most remembered because of his emotional response to unify architecture and its environment which makes Frank Lloyd Wright so relevant up until today.
Le Corbusier, Pioneer of International Style
Charles-Edouard Jeanneret or Le Corbusier as he is widely known was a Swiss, he was not necessarily French. He only became a full fledged French citizen during his thirties. His career lasted for five decades and his works can be found all around the globe, a testament to his skills and renown as a designer.
A pioneer in the study of modern high design. His ideal was to provide BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS for residents in crowded cities. Le Corbusier did not officially became Le Corbusier until the 1920's when he officially adopted this pseudonym.
Now a brief history for Mr. Le Corbusier; Already attracted to the visual arts in his early life he attended La-Chaux-De-Fonds Art School. There he met his first mentor Rene Chapallaz who had large influence on Le Corbusier's early designs most especially on his houses. In 1907 he found work in the office of Auguste Perret and by 1908 studied architecture in Vienna with Josef Hoffmann. Between 1910 and 1911 he worked for the renowned architect Peter Behrens. During World War I, He returned to his old school and taught there focusing theoretical architecture studies using modern techniques. Among these was a project called the "Domi-no House" this proposed an open floor plan consisting of concrete slabs supported by a minimal number of thin, reinforced concrete columns around the edges with a stairway on one side of the floor plan. This model would become the basis for his work for the next ten years. Soon after he would establish a firm together with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, a partnership that lasted until 1940. During the 1920's this was the time he adopted his pseudonym of Le Corbusier reflecting his belief that everyone could reinvent themselves.
Le Corbusier was so influential that even his death had a STRONG IMPACT ON THE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL WORLD. Homages were paid worldwide and even powerful countries like the United States, Soviet Union and Japan gave tribute and acknowledging the greatness of Le Corbusier as an Architect.
A pioneer in the study of modern high design. His ideal was to provide BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS for residents in crowded cities. Le Corbusier did not officially became Le Corbusier until the 1920's when he officially adopted this pseudonym.
Now a brief history for Mr. Le Corbusier; Already attracted to the visual arts in his early life he attended La-Chaux-De-Fonds Art School. There he met his first mentor Rene Chapallaz who had large influence on Le Corbusier's early designs most especially on his houses. In 1907 he found work in the office of Auguste Perret and by 1908 studied architecture in Vienna with Josef Hoffmann. Between 1910 and 1911 he worked for the renowned architect Peter Behrens. During World War I, He returned to his old school and taught there focusing theoretical architecture studies using modern techniques. Among these was a project called the "Domi-no House" this proposed an open floor plan consisting of concrete slabs supported by a minimal number of thin, reinforced concrete columns around the edges with a stairway on one side of the floor plan. This model would become the basis for his work for the next ten years. Soon after he would establish a firm together with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, a partnership that lasted until 1940. During the 1920's this was the time he adopted his pseudonym of Le Corbusier reflecting his belief that everyone could reinvent themselves.
Le Corbusier was so influential that even his death had a STRONG IMPACT ON THE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL WORLD. Homages were paid worldwide and even powerful countries like the United States, Soviet Union and Japan gave tribute and acknowledging the greatness of Le Corbusier as an Architect.
Louis Sullivan, Father of the Skyscraper and Modernism
Louis Sullivan, was an American architect. Among his credentials are; Father of skyscrapers, Father of Modernism, Father of Frank Lloyd Wright, Oops! I mean Mentor of Frank Lloyd Wright, Inspiration for the Prairie School and many more to mention.
A Brief history on Louis Sullivan; Born on Sept. 3, 1856 in Boston Massachusetts. at age 16, he entered MIT or Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There he studied architecture under William Ware and Eugene Letang however after just one year he left MIT to go back to his grandparents to work for Architects Frank Furness and George Hewitt but left again after a dispute with Hewitt. In 1874, he went Paris, France to study at Ecole des Beaux-Arts but that too also lasted for a short time. He returned to Chicago one year after and became a draftsman at Johnston & Edelman while he was there he was commissioned to design the interior of the Moody Tabernacle and this work of his was completed with critical acclamations. In 1879, Sullivan went to work for the office of Dankmar Adler and by 1883 the firm was renamed to Adler & Sullivan. The firm created 180 buildings during its existence and by 1887 Sullivan's prodigy would arrive, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the rest as they is history.
Considered to be America's FIRST TRULY MODERN architect. He did not imitate styles, HE CREATED HIS OWN. As one can notice Older Architectural Styles were for wide buildings but Louis Sullivan was able to create aesthetic unity in structures that emphasized height. Sullivan's work could be easily recognized by the use of masonry walls with terracotta designs. This style was imitated by other architects and this style would later form the the ideas of his student, Frank Lloyd Wright.
A Brief history on Louis Sullivan; Born on Sept. 3, 1856 in Boston Massachusetts. at age 16, he entered MIT or Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There he studied architecture under William Ware and Eugene Letang however after just one year he left MIT to go back to his grandparents to work for Architects Frank Furness and George Hewitt but left again after a dispute with Hewitt. In 1874, he went Paris, France to study at Ecole des Beaux-Arts but that too also lasted for a short time. He returned to Chicago one year after and became a draftsman at Johnston & Edelman while he was there he was commissioned to design the interior of the Moody Tabernacle and this work of his was completed with critical acclamations. In 1879, Sullivan went to work for the office of Dankmar Adler and by 1883 the firm was renamed to Adler & Sullivan. The firm created 180 buildings during its existence and by 1887 Sullivan's prodigy would arrive, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the rest as they is history.
Considered to be America's FIRST TRULY MODERN architect. He did not imitate styles, HE CREATED HIS OWN. As one can notice Older Architectural Styles were for wide buildings but Louis Sullivan was able to create aesthetic unity in structures that emphasized height. Sullivan's work could be easily recognized by the use of masonry walls with terracotta designs. This style was imitated by other architects and this style would later form the the ideas of his student, Frank Lloyd Wright.
Arts & Crafts
Arts and Crafts isn't a course or a subject actually it is a design movement that originated in England. It was a style that searched for authentic design and decoration and a rebellion against out-of machine production. Arts and crafts is simple in form and it often shows how they are put together. This style was also taken up by American designers however the style was called Mission style instead of Arts and Crafts.
This movement was inspired by Walter Crane and John Ruskin together with William Morris. They believed that in order to have a good design there must be a good society. The pioneers of this movement envisioned that the workers are not brutalized by working conditions but instead can work in an environment where they can take advantage of their craftsmanship and skill. The goal was to create and design that was by the people and for the people. This ideal produce very exquisite works of art however this works could only be afforded by the very wealthy so the ideal of "by the people, for the people" was lost.
This movement was inspired by Walter Crane and John Ruskin together with William Morris. They believed that in order to have a good design there must be a good society. The pioneers of this movement envisioned that the workers are not brutalized by working conditions but instead can work in an environment where they can take advantage of their craftsmanship and skill. The goal was to create and design that was by the people and for the people. This ideal produce very exquisite works of art however this works could only be afforded by the very wealthy so the ideal of "by the people, for the people" was lost.
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