The Journey of Materials in Modern Architecture
Read how some iconic buildings by iconic architects acted as milestones in the journey of Modernism
Modernism in architecture has defined the many meanings of urban environments we live in today. Skyscrapers, branded cities and structures were celebrated for their crisp, nonchalant and non-conventional metaphors. It was the transformation from buoyant, flamboyant and extravagant styles to clean, geometric lines and the ‘true to materials’ form, that has established Modernism. Though Modernism was defined by varied design connotations, exploration of materials remained a key element in creating the experience of spaces. Materials were expressed in their true forms and each element of architecture was celebrated for its real character. Exposed brick and concrete were used to define the appeal and used as elements to express poetics of space.
The article attempts to comprehend the journey of Modernism through the use of materials explored by various architects through their unique mechanisms. These techniques and manifestations, combined with theories of form and design, eventually defined the ideas of modern architecture as we perceive it today.
The article attempts to comprehend the journey of Modernism through the use of materials explored by various architects through their unique mechanisms. These techniques and manifestations, combined with theories of form and design, eventually defined the ideas of modern architecture as we perceive it today.
Farnsworth House by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe (1951)
The Farnsworth House, built on stilts, with open views on all sides, stands as a piece of art in its natural context. This house, due to its open plan and an almost non-existence of walls, contributed much to the modern architectural discourse back in the day, and continues to do so even today. It is considered a fine example of Mies’s philosophy of ‘less is more’. Though the structure of the house uses multiple materials, it appears to be built out of a minimal few, creating maximum transparency. The house attracted much criticism at the time – the client claimed it to have exceeded the budget, there were claims of groundwater seepage into the house, and so on. However, the case eventually turned in favour of the architect and Fansworth House stands proud today as a testament to Mies’ genius.
The Farnsworth House, built on stilts, with open views on all sides, stands as a piece of art in its natural context. This house, due to its open plan and an almost non-existence of walls, contributed much to the modern architectural discourse back in the day, and continues to do so even today. It is considered a fine example of Mies’s philosophy of ‘less is more’. Though the structure of the house uses multiple materials, it appears to be built out of a minimal few, creating maximum transparency. The house attracted much criticism at the time – the client claimed it to have exceeded the budget, there were claims of groundwater seepage into the house, and so on. However, the case eventually turned in favour of the architect and Fansworth House stands proud today as a testament to Mies’ genius.
Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright (1935)
In the Fallingwater house, Frank Lloyd Wright has stretched a material’s properties by using it to create a cantilever over a waterfall. Concrete had never been used in such a manner before – where it was also being celebrated so unabashedly in its natural form. The house has been designed with and around the natural terrain, rocks and environment in such a way that it uses them as elements to create a romanticised experience. The huge cantilever over the waterfall bears a relationship with the environment and till today stands as an answer to concrete’s marvellous capabilities.
In the Fallingwater house, Frank Lloyd Wright has stretched a material’s properties by using it to create a cantilever over a waterfall. Concrete had never been used in such a manner before – where it was also being celebrated so unabashedly in its natural form. The house has been designed with and around the natural terrain, rocks and environment in such a way that it uses them as elements to create a romanticised experience. The huge cantilever over the waterfall bears a relationship with the environment and till today stands as an answer to concrete’s marvellous capabilities.
Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier (1931)
As much as the Villa Savoye is a testament to the ‘Five Points of Architecture’ stated by Le Corbusier himself in his book Vers Une Architecture (Towards an Architecture), its realisation was possible due to the extreme properties of concrete. The concepts of roof gardens and ‘frames’ were adapted while curved forms were explored to bring in light, further exploring the endurance of the materials.
As much as the Villa Savoye is a testament to the ‘Five Points of Architecture’ stated by Le Corbusier himself in his book Vers Une Architecture (Towards an Architecture), its realisation was possible due to the extreme properties of concrete. The concepts of roof gardens and ‘frames’ were adapted while curved forms were explored to bring in light, further exploring the endurance of the materials.
The High Court building Chandigarh by Le Corbusier (1952)
Material, especially concrete, was a element that was especially focused upon and experimented with, a major reason for the various designs, elements and forms that shaped modern and post-modern architecture. In the Chandigarh master plan designed by Le Corbusier, the designs and adaptations were expressions of modern thoughts which eventually shaped the city. Though the subject of many controversies, the buildings built by Corbusier in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad still stand tall as great examples of the Modern Architectural movement.
Material, especially concrete, was a element that was especially focused upon and experimented with, a major reason for the various designs, elements and forms that shaped modern and post-modern architecture. In the Chandigarh master plan designed by Le Corbusier, the designs and adaptations were expressions of modern thoughts which eventually shaped the city. Though the subject of many controversies, the buildings built by Corbusier in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad still stand tall as great examples of the Modern Architectural movement.
Maison Jaoul by Le Corbusier (1956)
Palazzo Querini Stampalia by Carlo Scarpa (1963)
Carlo Scarpa, in what can be called an Experiment of Materialism, distinctly separated each element in architecture by giving each material its own identity and meaning. A staircase did not touch the wall, the arch was spaced from its lintel, each was allowed its own space to breath. Aloof from the time it was built in, Scarpa was one of the first pioneers to uncover the true skin of a building.
Carlo Scarpa, in what can be called an Experiment of Materialism, distinctly separated each element in architecture by giving each material its own identity and meaning. A staircase did not touch the wall, the arch was spaced from its lintel, each was allowed its own space to breath. Aloof from the time it was built in, Scarpa was one of the first pioneers to uncover the true skin of a building.
Palazzo Querini Stampalia by Carlo Scarpa (1963)
The Yale University Arts Gallery by Louis Kahn (1951)
In Louis Kahn’s architecture, one finds the use of different materials based on their functions. At the Yale University Arts Gallery, the glass facade, the staircase and a hollow concrete space-frame slab define the diverse ideas of modern architecture in an otherwise rudimentary surrounding.
In Louis Kahn’s architecture, one finds the use of different materials based on their functions. At the Yale University Arts Gallery, the glass facade, the staircase and a hollow concrete space-frame slab define the diverse ideas of modern architecture in an otherwise rudimentary surrounding.
The Salk Institute by Louis Kahn (1959)
‘’If you think of Brick, you say to brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ And the brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ And if you say to brick, ‘Look, arches are expensive, and I can use a concrete lintel over you. What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says, ‘I like an arch.’ And it’s important, you see, that you honour the material that you use. You can only do it if you honour the brick and glorify the brick instead of shortchanging it.’’
–Louis Kahn. Transcribed from the 2003 documentary My Architect: A Son’s Journey by Nathaniel Kahn. Master class at Pennsylvania, 1971.
‘’If you think of Brick, you say to brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ And the brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ And if you say to brick, ‘Look, arches are expensive, and I can use a concrete lintel over you. What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says, ‘I like an arch.’ And it’s important, you see, that you honour the material that you use. You can only do it if you honour the brick and glorify the brick instead of shortchanging it.’’
–Louis Kahn. Transcribed from the 2003 documentary My Architect: A Son’s Journey by Nathaniel Kahn. Master class at Pennsylvania, 1971.
The National Assembly Building , Dhaka by Louis Kahn (1962)
Kahn created poetic expressions using water as a material in the National Assembly building in Dhaka, which creates a tranquil atmosphere. Known as the Master of Light, Kahn used light against surfaces as a countenance of form with the use of local material. “If you see a series of columns, you can say that the choice of columns is a choice in light,” he said.
Kahn created poetic expressions using water as a material in the National Assembly building in Dhaka, which creates a tranquil atmosphere. Known as the Master of Light, Kahn used light against surfaces as a countenance of form with the use of local material. “If you see a series of columns, you can say that the choice of columns is a choice in light,” he said.
The Exeter Library by Louis Kahn (1965)
The Exeter Library and the Salk Institute express a poetic metaphor through the use of materials in their pure nature. The wooden interior of the library with the symphony of light for the reading areas creates a serene environment in the central atrium.
The Exeter Library and the Salk Institute express a poetic metaphor through the use of materials in their pure nature. The wooden interior of the library with the symphony of light for the reading areas creates a serene environment in the central atrium.
The Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Kahn (1966)
The museum is a great combination of modern metaphors, expressions of light and accent of materials. A series of six parallel concrete vaults with lights on the ceiling all along its length create intimate and monumental spaces, contemporary in their nakedness. These are progressive references to classical Roman architecture. The space resulting from the union between the curvature of the roof and wall form a crossbar, allowing oblique rays of light in the rooms. The masterly use of light in the Kimbell Art Museum came from a collaboration with John Kelly, who designed a system of directional light through an aluminium-sheet dome. A prudent combination of material knowledge, spatial experience and light was executed in this project, which symbolises modern design in architecture.
Modernism saw architects, such as Walter Gropius, Philip Johnson, Alvar Aalto and many others, experiment with materials to express contemporary designs. Today, in the era of Post Modernism and Deconstructivism, we see architects like Frank Gehry, late Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind experiment with new-age materials and technology, asserting that material forms and their expressions have had an eminent place in the history and progression of architecture.
Read more:
8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
11 Architects’ Home Offices From Around the World
My Life in Design: Kamal Malik
Tell us:
Which contemporary buildings of today would you consider as examples of great architecture? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
The museum is a great combination of modern metaphors, expressions of light and accent of materials. A series of six parallel concrete vaults with lights on the ceiling all along its length create intimate and monumental spaces, contemporary in their nakedness. These are progressive references to classical Roman architecture. The space resulting from the union between the curvature of the roof and wall form a crossbar, allowing oblique rays of light in the rooms. The masterly use of light in the Kimbell Art Museum came from a collaboration with John Kelly, who designed a system of directional light through an aluminium-sheet dome. A prudent combination of material knowledge, spatial experience and light was executed in this project, which symbolises modern design in architecture.
Modernism saw architects, such as Walter Gropius, Philip Johnson, Alvar Aalto and many others, experiment with materials to express contemporary designs. Today, in the era of Post Modernism and Deconstructivism, we see architects like Frank Gehry, late Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind experiment with new-age materials and technology, asserting that material forms and their expressions have had an eminent place in the history and progression of architecture.
Read more:
8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
11 Architects’ Home Offices From Around the World
My Life in Design: Kamal Malik
Tell us:
Which contemporary buildings of today would you consider as examples of great architecture? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
An icon of the Modernist movement, Mies van der Rohe expressed modern design through minimalism. One of the first experiments with an open plan, the German Pavilion at Barcelona saw the use of materials which were unheard-of at the time – marble, steel, chrome and glass. Mies’s use of travertine for the plinth and marble were unique thoughts, which created the ethereal and tranquil experience in the pavilion. The Barcelona Pavilion was an astute step towards modern design and planning, where ornamentation and excessive use of forms was dispensed with.