MODERN ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH

What is Modern architecture?

The term “Modern architecture” describes architecture designed and built within the
social, artistic, and cultural attitude known as Modernism. It put an emphasis on
experimentation, the rejection of predetermined “rules,” and freedom of expression in art,
literature, architecture, and music. The Modern Movement in architecture was born in the
20th century and really took off after World War I. Advancements in engineering,
building materials, social equality, health, and industry revolution, while past historical
styles were rejected. This created a perfect storm that allowed architecture to enter a new
era of design.

Modern architecture also attempted to help solve a practical problem: a boom in the urban
population. Immigration and new industries like steelmaking were attracting people from
rural areas to cities, and there was a need for new offices, factories, and housing to keep
up with growth. New mass production techniques meant buildings (and furniture) could
be produced quickly and relatively cheaply.

Over the years, Modern architecture spread around the world and expanded to include
regional adaptations, which met local needs and design sensibilities. Modern architects
also explored how materials could influence design.
Architecture:
Is a tool that we use to influence how people use space, how they interact with space and
each other using space and form.
And because it reflects our behavior changes in architecture is usually a reflection of the
changes in our social, cultural or economical values.

Above is a typical cross shaped plan for a shingle style house from the early 20th century
with a central stair case, a typical arrangement of public rooms on the ground floor and a
wrap up verandah.
And this is a very similar plan designed by Frank Lloyd Wright during the time when the
dynamics of homes were changing and a lot of people wanted a better connection between
the living rooms.
Most Architects tried to solve that by increasing the opening between the living areas but
Frank Lloyd wright overlapped the geometry to create one continuous floor using
intermediate elements like fireplaces or screens to divide the space but one could still see
the continuous floor and ceiling so making it fell like one big space and later he started to
offset the geometry from the grid to give even better connection. The houses started taking
the form of the function they were designed for.

5 pillars of ideology and design in modern architecture

1. New Building Materials: Before the turn of the 20th century, building materials
were restricted to simple items like brick, stone, and wood. But scientific
innovations led to the creation of brand-new materials such as mass-produced
glass, steel, reinforced concrete, and cast iron. An exciting world opened up for
architects—suddenly, they could experiment with materials that simply weren’t
available before.
2. Engineering Advancements: Engineering techniques developed to the point
where structures could employ those new building materials, giving architects the
freedom to design buildings that were no longer dependent on thick, load-bearing
walls to stand up. This allowed them to grow taller (i.e. skyscrapers). Buildings
could become thinner, lighter and could incorporate large glass surfaces. They
could have larger floor plans with bigger interior spaces, since fewer walls were
needed, and outer walls could be designed in expressive ways that traditional
brick and mortar structures couldn’t support. Especially in the early days of
Modern architecture, architects and designers used new building materials and
construction techniques experimentally, without a clear understanding of how
they would perform and age over time. As a result, some Modern buildings now
show signs of deterioration and aging

3. Form Follows Function: Before Modernism, architects were accustomed to

referencing historical styles and forms in their designs. In the 19th century, popular
styles included Beaux-Arts, Gothic Revival, and Neoclassicism. In these styles, the
building’s purpose didn’t necessarily have a strong influence on its design. But
Modernism introduced the idea that the building needs to function properly, and
that its appearance could be derived from its function. As a result, Modern
architecture tends towards minimalism: clean lines, carefully balanced
composition, exposed building materials, and a lack of adornment or reference to
historical architecture styles. So, its functionality is key.”

4. Comfort and Health: The idea that a home or even a commercial building should
be designed to be comfortable is, believe it or not, a new idea, introduced by
Modernism. We have Modernism to thank for elements like a connection to the
outdoors, spacious rooms, and lots of light. As 20th-century scientists learned
more about disease, hygiene, nutrition, and other fundamentals of health,
architects adopted design elements that complemented these findings. Contrast
that with pre-Modern buildings, which tended to have small windows, lots of
rooms and walls, and an emphasis on keeping weather and nature out.

5. Social Progress: Movements like women’s rights and workers’ rights blossomed in
the 20th century. An increased awareness of social inequality and the idea that
everyone should have access to quality housing, workplaces, and public spaces
began to take hold. These developments, combined with new mass-production
techniques, ushered in an era where the Modern aesthetic was adopted for
housing, offices, schools, sports arenas, transportation, libraries, and more. These
buildings were designed to be functional for everyone. “Modernism fuelled a
belief that quality architecture should be accessible to everyone,”
GROUP MEMBERS
SSEKUBUNGA ALAWI 22/U/ARD/2028/PD
BESIGA JACKSON KAFUKO 21/U/ARD/385/PD