Sayre Unit Summary 3 IAR 221

Explore

The connected world, globalization, the ability for a design region to be transported across the oceans to new worlds: These are all the realities of the 3^rd unit which have a direct relationship to Architecture.

Exploration is the perfect title for this unit as the overarching theme of architecture as countless numbers of designers strive to create the design language of the time, which would be used to base later designs. The arguments made between these architects indeed find some basing in previous design types with some resurgences of Gothic and Classical design, yet move very far past these basic ideas to the point where their themes are hardly recognized.

Art Nouveau | Bauhaus | Post Modernism

Recalling past design through the ideals and basic “phonetics” come Art Nouveau which was mentioned in class as not having past designs. I agree with this idea in the light of the great metal works created during the hay-day of the world fairs in the rapid construction (and subsequent rapid deconstruction) of the mega steel framed structures. I also think in some cases that Baroque found its way into influencing some aspects especially in the work of Antonio Gaudi and his Casa Mila. Almost every aspect of this building represents a material that it (Atomically) is not. Concrete blocks and steel frame transform into a apartment complex carved into a Cliffside in Barcelona (Roth 511). Other aspects which also represent the high and extreme decorative aspect of Baroque appear in the Tassel House, by Victor Horta in Belgium. The motif of Horta’s staircase begins on the floor with flowing tile work, continues on the railing, and flows to the columns and flairs out, in a continuing cycle which climaxes on a hanging light fixture also of a curvilinear design. Over the top and impressive, I feel Art Nouveau has heavy insight into the Baroque era.

Art Nouveau | Bauhaus | Post Modernism

The expansion of Scandinavian designs find its headquarters in the Bauhaus, the institute of design Dessau, Germany. Founded by Walter Gropius and later building reconstruction and design accompanied by Richard Meier, this institute was the lamp which shed its design light upon the globe. Due to the Second World War, designers who studied and taught design defused across the landscape resulting in their talents influencing buildings in the regions they eventually ended up in. Industrialized architecture was an idea shared by many great designers including Ludwig Van Der Rohe, and Le Corbusier who designed buildings such as, respectively, the German Pavilion, Barcelona, Spain, and the Villa Savoye in France. These influential buildings represented some of the highest ideals of the Bauhaus of industrial design, dematerialization and a quote from Le Corbusier “a machine for living.” These ideals grappled with the hand crafted designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, but later found solace as years went on and design language changed.

Art Nouveau | Bauhaus | Post Modernism

Post Modernism. The conglomeration of many design languages which became understood by some, confused others, and in the hands of masters became arguably the top in expression of design. An important aspect of this age is the realization that function plays a most important role in the design of buildings. Good design for all. Not for people to conform to the wishes of a high browed designers view of perfection in structure, but the ability to provide and serve the public in ways which fulfill commodity, firmness and delight. I think this era offers very important aspects of all the previous design languages in order to produce something entirely new. The image I think, although it is certainly not from one of the most world renowned designers of this period such as Richard Meier, to some extent Le Corbusier or Frank Gehry, represents the idea and purpose of Post Modernism and combining aspects to delve into the unknown. 

Gunter Domenig, Volkermarkt, Austria. Example of steel frame.

Gunter Deomenig’s industrial office building Volkermarkt, Austria is a representation of the idea’s which grew out of the Bauhaus comingled with the steel frame and stunning buildings of Art Nouveau. “While this seemingly unfinished structure appears deliberately provocative, the similarly evocative structural expression […] results primarily from pushing the engineering implications of structural systems to their logical artistic and poetic limits” (Roth 598). These ideas were used by the designer to produce an extreme statement while not sacrificing the ability of this building to succeed functionally.

Gunter Domenig, Volkermarkt Austria. Stretching of structural
design

Explorations found voices for the spread of architecture to places which it would have never grown on its own. Expressions in Art Nouveau found their basis in Baroque while striking out on their own to the point where these bases were hardly defined. Bauhaus spread a tradition of modernism stressing the dematerialization which would later appear in many buildings found in Post-Modernism.  The aggregation of these ideas became Post Modern design which continues to this day in many forms. In all the units, I found this one very important to my understanding of design as it has shown where the aspects of previous design have seeped into the language of today. The bone structure which was Unit 1 was added to by the Muscle of Unit 2 in order to reveal the skin and features I am able to discern in Unit 3. The main idea remains the same: in finding that which fulfills the status of modernity.