Theory of Architecture

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

ALVAR AALTO
Born in Finland in 1898. He graduated with honors from Helsinki Polytechnic in 1921 after which he opened his
own practice. He held the position of Professor of Architecture at MIT 1946 to 1948, and was president of the
Academy of Finland.

Auditorium (University of Helsinki, Finland) Paimio Chair

Alvar Aalto generated a
style of functionalism which
avoided romantic excess
and neoclassical monotony.
He utilized texture, color,
and structure in creative
new ways. Aalto’s designs
were particularly significant
because of their response to
site, material and form.
Riola Parish Church
Kunsten Museum (Museum of Modern Art) (Aalborg, Denmark)

Aalto devised this peculiar

shape to provide the
museum with as much
natural light as possible. To
do not harm the artworks on
display, daylight is mainly
conveyed into the museum
indirectly.

ANTONI GAUDI
Born in Spain in 1852. He studied at the Escola Superior d’Arquitectura and designed his first major commission
for the Casa Vincens using a Gothic Revival Style.

Casa Batlló (Barcelona, Spain) Art Nouveau

Gaudí used colours and
shapes found in marine life
as inspiration for his
creativity in this building e.g.
the colours chosen for the
façade are those found in
natural coral.
Ornamental style of art that flourished between
about 1890 and 1910 throughout Europe and
the United States. Art Nouveau is
characterized by its use of a long, sinuous,
organic line and was employed most often in
architecture, interior design, jewelry and glass
design, posters, and illustration.

La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona Spain)

Gaudi developed a sensuous,

curving, almost surreal
design style which
established him as the leader
of the Spanish Art Nouveau
movement. His Vine Whip Fleur De Lys
characteristically warped
form of Gothic architecture
drew admiration from other
avant-garde artists.

Esteron, Jamil V.
 Theory of Architecture
FRANK GEHRY
Born in Canada in 1929. He studied at the Universities of Southern California and Harvard before he established
his first practice.

Guggenheim Museum (Spain) Dancing House (Prague) Vitra Design Museum (Germany)

Gehry moved away from a The museum was established as

Gehry originally named the
conventional commercial practice an independent foundation
house as Fred and Ginger (after
to an artistically directed atelier. dedicated to the research and
the famous dancers Fred Astaire
His deconstructed Architectural popularization of design and
and Ginger Rogers - the house
Style began to emerge in late architecture. Despite its modest
resembles a pair of dancers).
1970s when he created collage- scale, the museum building
like compositions out of found emerged as a programmatic work
materials. He created pieces of of deconstructivism.
functional sculpture.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Born in Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1867. He was educated at Second Ward School, Madison and at the
University of Wisconsin where he took some mechanical drawing and basic mathematic courses. He then
departed for Chicago where he spent several months in J.L. Silsbee’s office before seeking employment with
Adler and Sullivan. He lead the Arts and Craft Movement.

Guggenheim Museum (New York City) Fallingwater (Kaufmann House) (Pennsylvania)

Wright believed Through

in designing experimentation,
structures that wright developed
were in the idea of the
harmony with Prairie house - a
humanity and its long, low building
environment. A hovering planes
philosophy he and horizontal
called organic emphasis.
architecture.

Additional Notes

Esteron, Jamil V.
 Theory of Architecture
I.M. PEI
Ieoh Ming Pei born in China in 1917. He studied architecture at MIT and Harvard. He worked for several
companies and as a professor at Harvard before he founded his own architectural firm in 1960.

Louvre Pyramid (Paris, France) Bank of China (Hong Kong)

Due to his The sharp corners and

reliance on bright, reflective features
abstract form and caused a lot of
materials such as controversy when it was
stone, concrete, being built. The Chinese
glass, and steel, have a belief system
he has been called "Feng Shui" that
considered a dictates architectural style.
disciple of
Gropius. Pei generally designs sophisticated glass The cross braces and
clad buildings loosely related to the high-tech triangular framework of
movement. the building are designed
to withstand typhoons.
The structure is said to
Essensa Towers (Taguig City) mimic bamboo.

Additional Notes

JØRN UTZON
Born in Copenhagen in 1918. after studying at the Academy of Arts in Copenhagen, he travelled through
Europe , the United States, and Mexico. He established his own practice in Copenhagen in 1950 when he
returned from his travels.

Sydney Opera House (New South Wales, Australia) National Assembly Building (Kuwait)

Utzon has created a style which incorporates the sculptural quality of Alvar Aalto, and the organic
structures of Frank Lloyd Wright into his designs. Influenced by architectural tradition, he attempts to create
architecture for living that adheres to a strict structural and constructive process.

Esteron, Jamil V.