International Style ……
In 1931 Alfred H. Barr Jr., who was the
director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, introduced the expression
“International Style” for the catalogue “International Style: Architecture
Since 1922”. After analysing the works
of Modernism designers and architects, including Le Corbusier, Jacobus Johannes
Pieter Oud, Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Barr recognised a
universal artistic/architectural style which the West had not seen since the
Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages the
International Gothic Style was very successful on the European continent and so
the new 20th century International Style was named after it.
Graham McKay , (2012), THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE: ARCHITECTURE SINCE 1922, by Henry-Russell Hitchcock, Jr., and Philip Johnson. W. W. Norton and Co. New York, 1932. $5.
[ONLINE]. Available at: http://betterarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1384.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Whitney Lockhart, (2013), Chapter 25 - International Style - Furniture Designer - French architecture Charles Edouard Jeanneret known as Le Corbusier, 1930
[ONLINE]. Available at: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ba/66/eb/ba66ebdddf019286fdf9f7da68666b1c.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
bluesteel , (2013), Le Corbusier ‘s “A City of Towers” from 1923. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://wildrocketsledgeride.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Le-Corbusier-A-City-of-Towers1.jpg [Accessed 21 November 13]
Wikipedia, (2013), File:J.J.P. Oud.jpg [ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/J.J.P._Oud.jpg/368px-J.J.P._Oud.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Christie`s, (2013), JACOBUS JOHANNES PIETER OUD; Holland armchair [ONLINE].
[Accessed 21 November 13]
As I mentioned earlier on, Walter Gropius
and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe emigrated to the United States after Bauhaus was
closed down in 1933. In America, they
continued to do architectural works and hold exhibitions, and after the war
years, they occupied high teaching positions.
They worked hard to make Modernism “international”. In fact, Gropius and Mies were the greatest
promoters of the International Style which referred to the work of the Modern
Movement architects and designers.
Vitra Design Museum, (2013), Ludwig Mies van der Rohe [ONLINE].
Available at:http://www.design-museum.de/typo3temp/pics/Mies_van_Rohe_sw.crop498x498_01_42a6c9de4b.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Answers, (2013), Walter Gropius [ONLINE].
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WalterGropius-1919.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
politecture , (2011), America Changed the Man who Changed American Modern Architecture [ONLINE]. Available at: http://politecture.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/miesvanderrohe.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
The characteristics of the International
Style were power, elegance and clarity.
The designers that came after the War,
including Florence Knoll, Charles Eames and George Nelson, united the modern
international approach with methods of industrial mass-production, and so their
creations complied with the principles of good design.
In the 1920s and 1930s, geometric forms, industrial
materials (for example steel and glass) and white rendering were
characteristics of the International Style, when it came to architecture and
interior design.
Later, architects and designers, such as
Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, started to produce sculptures and reveal
differences between geometric and organic forms in order to give a human
quality to the International Style.
Lushpad, (2013), Eero Saarinen [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.lushpad.com/blog/designs-for-living/
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Lushpad, (2013), Charles Eames [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.lushpad.com/blog/designs-for-living/
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Others, including Kenzō Tange, created a heavy plain style of
architecture by using certain materials and certain applications to surfaces
(for example exposed rough-cast concrete).
Wikipedia, (2013), File:Kenzo Tange at KTA.jpg [ONLINE].
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kenzo_Tange_at_KTA.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Although the International Style seemed to
come to an end in 1980, certain buildings designed by architects of the late
1980s and 1990s, including Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, had the
characteristics of the International Style.
Not Shown For Clarity, (2013), Norman Foster – How to architect [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.vatjaiswal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NormanfosterFeatured-750x375.jpg
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Jorge Chapa,, (2007), AND THE PRIZKER GOES TO... Richard Rogers [ONLINE].
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Other References:
MISFITS' ARCHITECTURE. 2012. The New Objectivity. [ONLINE] Available at: http://misfitsarchitecture.com/tag/the-international-style-1932/.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Pinterest. 2013. Swiss/International Style Architect(ure).
[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.pinterest.com/whitneylockhart/swissinternational-style-architecture/.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Wild Rocket Sledge Ride . 2013. Wild Rocket Sledge Ride . [ONLINE] Available at: http://wildrocketsledgeride.com/roads-underground-crazy/this-is-dystopian-le-corbusier-on-acid/. [Accessed 21 November 13]
Christie`s. 2013. JACOBUS JOHANNES PIETER OUD; Holland armchair.
[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4158348.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Vitra Design Museum. 2013. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/biographies-of-designers/detailseiten/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe.html.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Answers. 2013. Walter Gropius. [ONLINE]
politecture . 2011. America Changed the Man who Changed American Modern Architecture.
[ONLINE] Available at: http://politecture.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/america-changed-the-man-who-changed-american-modern-architecture/.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Lushpad. 2013. Designs for Living. [ONLINE]
Available at: http://www.lushpad.com/blog/designs-for-living/.
[Accessed 21 November 13]
Book: Fiell, C.F and P.F, 1999. Design of the 20th Century. 2nd ed. Germany: Taschen
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