Eliana Johnson #7- the Emergence of Modernism

The Emergence of Modernism

• historical background
• World war 1 lasted from July 1914 to November 1918
• There was a chance to redesign after the war
• Art Nouveau and Prairie Style contributes to Modernism Movement 
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• First Major Modern Architect
• "Architecture of Democracy"
• Incorporated private areas of the house and illustrated manipulation of grid with the art glass and wall tiles
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• Designed open office concept that is still used today
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• International Style
• major architectural style that emerged in 1920-30s
• "the expression of volume rather than mass, the emphasis on balance rather than preconceived symmetry and the expulsion of applied ornament"
• Common characteristics
• Radical simplification of form
• rejection of ornamentation
• adoption of glass, steel, and concrete as preferred materials
• transparency of buildings
• construction- called the honest expression of structure
• acceptance of industrialized mass-production techniques
• Walter Gropius
• Architect of the Bauhaus
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• Materials 
• Borrowed materials and methods of construction  from technology 
• utilized mass production
• structural components included: steel, glass, and concrete
• smooth surfaces
• primary colors
• furniture made of plywood, metal tubing, and plastic
• Characteristics and style:
• building emphasized the honest and direct use of materials
• functional design
• structural components included: steel, glass, and concrete
• Mies van der Rohe
• "less is more" and "God is in the details" 
• Methods and materials:
• interiors were created using industrial steel and plate glass
• created overlap between the outside and the inside to blend them together
• valued luxurious materials such as wood and marble
• chairs were created using tubular metal
• characteristics and style
• focus of details
• interiors were open and each space flowed into the next
• the rich materials were the decoration
• The barcelona exhibition
• introduced Mies van der Rohe to the world with the Barcelona chair
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• Modern applications
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                                        Modernism application with Mies Barcelona table
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  One step further: In the film PlayTime, architecture is both a backdrop and a central theme, portraying a cold, impersonal modern city that dehumanizes its inhabitants. Tati critiques postwar modernism through uniform office buildings, reflective glass barriers, and rigid urban planning that confuses and isolates people, especially Monsieur Hulot, who struggles to navigate the overly structured world. The film’s sterile spaces, from mechanized apartments to a collapsing high-end restaurant, highlight how modern design prioritizes aesthetics over functionality. However, as chaos unfolds, people reclaim these spaces with spontaneity and humor, culminating in a traffic roundabout turning into a whimsical carousel. Ultimately, PlayTime suggests that while modern architecture can be alienating, human resilience and playfulness can bring warmth back to the built environment.
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