Week 12: Modernism in America part one

 

Modernism didn't originate in America, but rather came from Europe which then spread across the Globe. World War 2 caused a dramatic shift in modernism as pre-war modernism was theoretical and idealistic, and post-war modernism was practical and applied. The shift was due to people questioning traditional culture after the destruction of the war. Artists and architects wanted to use modernism as a bridge for further expression and exploration, and the realities of the war fueled more creativity and innovation as a way to improve the world and combat the damage done by countless lives being lost and the toll on the environment.

One influential architect during this time was Rudolph Schindler. He had a collaborative relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright and designed the Schindler House in California. Construction of this building was utilized with a tilt slab method of concrete walls being poured on top of the concrete base. The exterior of this building had darker and wooden colors with the use of more quadrilateral shapes, and the interior provided richer and brighter colors which would engulf the visitor with an inviting and warm environment.  

His design style would represent the common prototype of a modern residential home and each home would hold a unique exploration of the space within it. His style was called Space Architecture which would determine the structure, interior, and space of the design. He liked using concrete, redwood, and glass to design the shell of a home, and plaster was a cheaper material he would use. Similarly, Petra Blaisse utilizes the interior and atmosphere to evoke feeling. Schindler wanted to use the interior to embody a spatial emphasis where his creations can demonstrate an understanding of how people inhabit a building and interact with their surroundings. 

One Step Further: Phillip Johnson

Johnson helped to separate modernist architecture from politics at the time. Modernism and architecture began in Russia. And Germany, which many of its leading figures Were very politically left. But Johnson's style is based on modernist architecture. Was not tied to any political agenda. He was happy to apply his style when constructing buildings for capitalists and socialists. It indicates how much he broke societal barriers considering politics and architecture. One of his most extraordinary designs from 1994 is the AT&T Tower. This building is 37 stories tall and located in Manhattan. This skyscraper stood out by the unique roof with a split among the apex by a circular incision, which earned the skyscraper nickname "Chippendale skyscraper". Another thing that distinguished this building from others was its octagonal base. The building had eight separate walls as opposed to 4 with most skyscrapers, and the octagon shape is repeated throughout the building. 

Phillip Johnson worked in two different art styles, the modernist period(1949-1979), and the Postmodernist period(1980-1990). His design style was more on a personal level. Instead of conforming to what the other architects did during his time, he used styles with ornamental touches and expressive features in his smaller projects. During the modernist period, Johnson's projects would contain a lot more glass and more darker colors. In contrast, in the approach of the postmodernist era, the buildings became bigger and brighter except the AT&T tower, as it is darker and has less glass.  Overall, Philip Johnson greatly impacted architecture because he lived through and affected the two major ages of the 20th century by spreading modernist architecture. Through the legacy of his skyscrapers, he helped reimagine what a city landscape could be and even predicted the look of postmodernist architecture.

References: 

Reasons why the AT&T tower is historic | ksdk.com

Philip Johnson Paintings, Bio, Ideas | TheArtStory

Architect Philip Johnson interview (2001) (youtube.com)