Architecture and Narrative: the formation of space and cultural meaning - Sophia Psarra 2009 pp. 43-64

Reading 5 (Week 15)

Reflections in Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion

The Pavilion elevated to the twentieth centuries most significant building. It was a demonstration of Mies 'inventiveness and his 'enduring continuity with architectural history. Below photographs taken from the readings - Ludwig Mies van der Roche,  Barcelona Pavilion. 

The contrasts between symmetry and asymmetry, 

frontally  (A schematic composition of the front view that is complete without lateral movement.) and dispersion, the slicing of space by building slabs and the free course of movement have been identified of some of the main characteristics of early Modernism.

The Barcelona Pavillion has been interpreted as a prototype for Mies houses. Free standing walls, cruciform chrome columns and reflective materials became the essential elements of his mid 1930s compositions.

Mies explored his designs through drawings and sketches, often depicting a few surfaces with extraordinary detail. I particularly felt his drawings reveal how he envisioned his individual spaces, I felt his different methods were needed to examine the entire field of visual experience as continuous and flowing condition.

The Russian Revolutionary: Zaha Hadid. BBC Four / Documentary

Reading 3 (Week 13)
The Russian Revolutionary

Architect Zaha Hadid tells hows how her work is influenced by abstract artist Kazimir Malevich. This documentary followed on well with the previous reading 'Modern Architecture' and the links how Art and Architecture can 

work together.

Kazimir Malevich a figure in modern art, he invented a new painterly language made from shapes and colours, suprematisim.

Kazimir Malevich started as a cubist just before the Russian  'My black square is a bare and frameless icon for our time/arise comrade and free yourselfs from the tyranny of objects' The 'Black Square' became most influential artworks in History.

The Russian abstract artist is Zaha Hadids greatest influence, Kazimur Malevich had a early desire to be truly 'modern.' The pioneering work of Malevich and the Russian supremacists it was the abstract and exploding compositions that inspired her. 

Zaha was fascinated by abstract leading to plans moving away from what architecture is. Thinking through the possibilities what might happen.

I personally began to be inspired how something so simple 'Black square' changed the course of art forever. Total simplicity created a sense of power.  to abstractionism.

Malevich was fascinated with the freedom associated with flight and space. Zaha Hadid inspired by how structure  engineering make building almost as if its floating about. The third and final ear of suprematist painting was Malevichs white period, pushing all limits of art and painting stripping away all colour. The white becomes more dominated, slowly disappearing whole notion of art making.

Simple drawings explored architecture creating a connecting with painting moves from 2D - 3D. Malevich showed many different compositions, showing plans, sections and elevations within one painting/drawing.  Come the revolution suprematisim became a design for living.

Malevich was a grand messianic figure who believed art was a religion and has particular inspired me after learning more into his theories,and to be more abstract within my projects before thinking if the design is possible. 

Bauhaus 1919-1933: Weimar-Dessau-Berlin - Michael Siebenbrodt, Lutz Schobe, ebrary, Inc c2009

Reading 4 (Week 14)
Bauhaus buildings 

This reading continued the development on the Architectural career. Below is a photograph of The Barcelona Pavilion which shapes the image of Bauhaus architecture today, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The glass used within a lot of the Bauhaus architecture consist of larger areas of glass, which gives the building a special transparency and elegance.

'Art and technology-a new unity' had become Gropius central idea. Within this reading it talks about the development of the Bauhaus School which was founded by Gropius. 

Almost the same time as Gropius's 1922 competition design for the Chicago Tribune Tower with its visible skeleton structure, Ludwig Mies van der Roche developed his famous office and skyscraper projects which were never carried out.

Easily recognisable building shapes were attributed to the five functional areas. - 1925

The architectural ideas and quality criteria of Mies van der Roche became the benchmark for the student designs, and not the development of individual design ideas.

The Bauhaus architects as discussed contributed decisively to the development of further works in Europe with their international network as members of architectural organisations and associations

I found it interesting reading about the architecture that creates our image of Bauhaus of architecture today. For me, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Roche, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright all regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture.

The Globalisation of modern Architecture: the impact of politics, economics and social change on Architecture and urban design since 1900 - Robert Adam, ebrary, Inc 2012 - Pages 7-29

Reading 1 (Week 11)
A short history of Globalisation 

The Ancient empires standardised architecture across continents.
 Saw by the ancient word and still active to this day are two major establishments. 
(The great Monotheistic religions of Christianity and Islam).

'The Enlightenment' – Movement of the 18th Century that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding than 'tradition' and 'religion'. Political and cultural change was taking place in Europe as the result of exploration and the extension of overseas empires, especially in America. 'With Enlightenment thinking, Modernism was explicitly opposed to the continuation of tradition.'

Colonisation and the Spread of European Culture - When colonisers destroyed native culture, the home architecture of the colonists became the architecture of the colony. 

'Architecture in the 1920s and 1930s took different directions expressing Nationalism, Internationalism.’ However the distinctions between Architectural styles weren't always defined within the condition of modernity. Rise of nationalism.

 Each country creates their individual Architectural style ideas within the Architectural styles have been transferred throughout the globalisation.  This reading hasn’t had an influence on my current design, however I feel more aware of how Architectual styles came about.

Modern Architecture - Alan Colquhoun, ebrary, Inc 2002 Pages 73-86 Adolf Loos 1900-30

Reading 2 (Week 12)
The Urn and the Chamberpot: 
Adolf Loos 1900-30

'Adolf Loos (1970-1933) occupies a unique place in history of modern architecture.' Created contradictions of contemporary theory but an architect whose work, though small in output, was exciting and highly original.

Adolf Loos battled against the notion of applied arts. He condemns all forms of meaningless decoration on articles of use.

Adolf Loos most persistent idea - that the forms of use -objects, including those of non monumental architecture, should owe nothing to artistic intention.  - Seems to contradict his own practice.

Before the First World War the Architecture was decorative where as after the first world it was as if the Architecture had been abandoned. Le corbusier who in turn had been deeply influenced by Adolf Loos matured after the First World War.

I found this reading receptive within the various architects using an International style. The next generation of Architects, who sought by this means to create precisely the resolution between technology and art that Adolf Loos said was impossible. 

Decorum - refers to the suitability of a design.  Architectural decorum instead that a design should agree with its purpose and be appropriately adapted to its audience, namely other buildings and the public at large.

Art creates Architecture.