PAPER TITLE : Exploring Minimalist Architecture.

WRITER : Susan Droesen, TU Delft Architecture ,Explore Lab.

INTRODUCTION

Minimalism is used to describe designs that are reduced to its essentials.

The term was first used in the 1960s for the early works of American
artists such as Donald Judd, Carl Andre and Sol Le Witt. Their art was
characterised by extensive abstraction. The art movement is called
‘Minimal Art’ and was a reaction to ‘Abstract Expressionism’, which is
often characterised by gestural brushstrokes and the impression of
spontaneity. Generally, minimalism has a negative image, because it is
associated with plain, white boxes for buildings and colored surfaces for
paintings. The designers, who are associated with minimalism, usually
disagree with the "minimalism" label they receive. Nowadays, the
minimalist lifestyle is very trendy, and focusses on reducing consumption,
collecting less stuff, and tidying up. I would like to explore minimalism in
its various forms and develop a proper understanding for its
characterising qualities and traits. By examining various examples of
minimalism in architecture and art, I want to gain more control over what
this style entails, and ultimately be able to use minimalism as a guiding
theme in my design.
ARCHITECTURE

‘Simplicity’ comes from a need for essence. There are different elements
that can contribute to the simplicity of an object. The choice of material
can also contribute to the quality of simplicity. A balance is again created
in the work through the use of similar elements on both sides of the
composition. By having a function, usability plays a major role in
buildings. To create a minimalist aesthetic in the interior, integrated
solutions for storage, light and outlets are often sought, so there is no
more clutter in sight. A reduced image is created by hiding these
functional elements. Spatiality is a theme that has already been
introduced in the art analysis under the theme called ‘form’. Though, the
term spatiality is more fitting for the analysis of architecture. The
spatiality of a building can be found in the composition and organisation
of volumes and spaces. The use of texture ensures that an aesthetically
‘minimalistic’ building gets a ‘friendly’, 'accessible' and 'lively' appearance,
because its appearance changes when light hits the building and patterns
arise. Without texture, a building becomes ‘cold’, which is the case with
Palmgren house and its grey plastered walls. The challenge is to give a
minimalist design a 'warm' and 'livable' appearance.
‘In minimalism natural light is transmitted into interior space, usually not
directly, but through uniquely designed architectural elements in order to
control and structure light reflections. Light and shadow create a playful
interaction of colour, texture and related emotion associated to the
program. The contrast between these can be sharp or blurry depending
on the desired effect. This strategy can create depth and display texture
and is one of the strongest design features in phenomenology. To create a
minimalist aesthetic in the interior, integrated solutions for storage, light
and outlets are often sought, so there is no more clutter in sight.
PAPER TITLE : Basics of Minimalism Architecture.

WRITER : Salem Y. Al Qudwa.

INTRODUCTION

Minimalism is a movement in abstract art towards extremely simplified

composition. In architecture it is considered as one of the dominant
design trends today. Minimalist architecture or architecture of simplicity
attempts to draw us back to a different way of living and feeling. Leaving
aside present-day misuse and the inflation of the term, minimalist
architecture represents one of the most significant contributions to a
review of a discipline, and an attempt to endow it with new foundations,
and a way of life (Bertoni, 1998).

UNDERSTANDING MINIMALISM

Minimalism is secretly complex. It is about striping away at an idea or

thought, until you expose just the frame work that props it up. It is the
distillation of an idea. Minimalism is the egg. Simple compared to an
omelet, complex when you consider what is in it or what it can become.
Just think of all the recipes eggs are the catalyst .
Minimising is about making things as simple as possible by reducing
complexity. The definition of the word minimise is ‘to reduce (especially
something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount,
extent, or degree.’ In terms of architecture, this means getting rid of
inessentials so that only the basic elements of the building remain.
The essence of the building is condensed and strengthened in this way. A
minimum cannot be made simpler. Minimalist ideology is about the search
of the essence of human condition, place, materials, space and light
 A void in which to listen to figures with a pure and unconstrained eye in
order to rediscover how many universal qualities are contained in the
simplest and most common place objects. ‘Minimise’ is not necessarily
the same as minimalism. Minimalism in the arts usually refers to the
visual appearance of architecture. Many people practice the minimalist
philosophy without even knowing it and more people are considering
having a minimalist lifestyle in these times. Having minimalism as a way of
life contains both tools and motivation for tackling the messy areas of our
homes and practical steps for de-cluttering and organizing and will help
on our way to living with less. Sustaining this lifestyle, with less clutter
and more simplicity.

PAPER TITLE : Moduler Minimalism In Architecture.

WRITER : Salem Y. Al Qudwa.

MODULER
The term "minimalism" was a trend from early 19th century movement in
response to the over decorated design of the previous period. The roots
of minimalism in architecture are oŌen traced back to the mid to late
1950s. The movement was a reacƟon to new styles of architecture and
lifestyle that was being cultivated in the United States. Minimalism
developed as a response to the increasingly commercial and consumerist
lifestyles that were being reflected in design.Minimalist architecture
became popular in the late 1980s in London and New York, where
architects and fashion designers worked together in the boutiques to
achieve simplicity, using white elements, cold lighting, large space with
minimum objects and furniture. Minimalist architecture simplifies living
space to reveal the essential quality of buildings and conveys simplicity in
attitudes toward life.
PRINCIPLE’S
Minimalist architecture principles are connected to each other where the
form is loyal, correct, basic and essential, one that conveys what is
important. All these aspects can only lead to a sort of ethics of simplicity,
beauty of simple elegance. Lessness architecture or the luxury of enough,
essentialism, are some titles behind the idea that there exists such a thing
as an essence or inner being that revealing or reaching this essence is the
purpose of art and architecture.
Purity in architecture can be achieved through simplicity and unity. In
general, the idea of minimalism can be described as "less is more," or as
some designers and architects are fond of saying, "doing more with less."

Minimalist architects use space as a design feature in and of itself. Instead

of trying to fill space with features, they create designs in which the
empty space is as carefully thought out and used as everything they add
to the room. Basic shapes and straight clean lines are also important
techniques used in minimalist design, as is playing around with different
kinds of lighting. The outcome is elegant but without being fussy.
PAPER TITLE : Interpretation of Minimalism in Architecture
According to Various Culture.

WRITER : Swetha Elangovan. Student, School of Architecture,

VIT University, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India

ARCHITECTURE AS A CULTURAL REPRESENTATION

Many cultures promote simplicity as a motive that is to be followed which

is very true as far as Japanese culture is considered as it promotes Zen
philosophy. Culture represents people’s motive, values, beliefs. Culture
also expresses people’s way of living. various opinions on minimalism
were seen at that time and minimalism was practiced extensively in some
places whereas in other places minimalist architecture was not
appreciated. interpretation on minimalism differs according to their
cultural. Zen cultural elements in its architecture to achieve an aesthetic
design (zen-philosophy, n.d.). Their aesthetic principles are Zen
Philosophy (Moral Freedom), Ma concept (Emptiness), Wabi-sabi
(Voluntary Poverty) which we will look into in detail. These principles of
Japanese culture greatly influenced minimalist architecture in the early
times. Architecture has the ability to display in what way our values and
tradition of culture determines our everyday life

THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS CULTURE IN MINIMALIST

ARCHITECTURE

Modernism in the Western society is the result of technological

development, humanism and newly formed organizations. It was an
emergence of philosophies and breaking down of rationality and identity.
It brought in various changes in eliminating the traditionally agreed
concepts. Western society has its own culture and traditional concepts
but it does not solely depend on it to validate itself.
In attaining the modernity, the traditionality was thoroughly put into test
and was found that its flawed. This was the root for every modernity
project in the society. The Western interpretation of modernity is
increase in knowledge of technology and science which gives out a
change in the social system. Modernity is devoid of traditional values,
norms and atmosphere. Christianity was one of the first religions that
accepted modernity in their lives. According to Max Weber (Max Weber,
2007), there were social modernity and cultural modernity. In the
Western society, there were different conceptualizations for modernity.
Modernity rise is due to the intellectual knowledge and the social force.

Japanese culture which is linked to the concept of Zen and simplicity is

always connected with Japanese design. Japanese architecture and
design have always used clear cut lines and forms, simple colors and
designs. Minimalist architects are heavily influenced by Japanese
principles and design. For Japanese culture, less is always more and this
concept has been followed for ages. This way of life was embraced by
Japanese minimalism and the people did the same as in return, even
though there are today instances of extreme aesthetic devotion that
extends beyond the already rare values of maintaining only what is
needed (Stevanovic, 2014). Western society was heavily influenced by
Japanese minimalism theories, mainly in America in the 18th and 19th
century and the needs of Western society and design matched with their
ideas . The Western minimalist architecture focuses only on the building
and not the surroundings unlike Japanese architecture where it integrates
its design with the nature. It is understood that Japanese architecture and
its ideals are closely connected with its people, culture and tradition.
MATERIAL AND ITS EFFECTS
Materials plays a major role in a building’s vibe and appearance.
Minimalist architecture is all about using very few, simple and straight
forward materials in exterior and interior of a building. Modernism led to
the introduction of materials such as glass, concrete and steel. The façade
of a building can largely influences an individual’s perspective towards it.
Minimalist architecture focuses on the simplification of form and then the
attention is shift to the materials, surface and details.
Innovations in minimalist architecture is also because of materials like
glass, steel, and concrete as the challenges it brought in was high. Glass
as a building material is an apt choice for a minimalist building as it gives
a sense of openness, brings in light, transparency and is invisible if need
be. Due to its transparency, glass can give out the illusion of a large space.
In the present-day scenario, there is a limitation of space for buildings
where using glass will make it look larger and the amount of light brought
in is maximized. Concrete gives the building a raw atmosphere and is a
trademark material of modern minimalist architecture.

In the 1980’s, a warehouse named Ricola storage building was

constructed with minimalistic approach. The building was a prism in
rectangular shape with deck on one side of it. The building looks
windowless and door less, it looks devoid of any emotion but still
attractive. The stacked horizontal lines in the façade used fiber cement
cladding and timber posts. It heavily gives out the impression that if
touched, it would collapse anytime giving out a shuttered vibe. Two main
minimalistic approach in this building is the wise use of materials and
simplicity.