Modernism in architecture. Styles in architecture. Modern styles of architecture

Modernism in architecture and art is sometimes confused with modernity. This error is understandable, since it proceeds from the usual logic: the root words refer to roughly the same thing, but in practice the situation is different. Modern is the term that defines the historical period in the context of art, whereas modernism is a definite direction that is characterized not so much by special details as by a rejection of the experience and accents of the past.

It can and should be seen not only as an architectural, but also a historical phenomenon. By and large, it was a litmus test, which reacted to everything that happened not only in the world and the society as a whole, but also in the minds of individual people. Modernism is a style of perception of life, a symbol of hopes of that time.

Where from?

The term itself originates from Italian, where the word modernismo is translated as "modern flow". In general, the languages in this sense are surprisingly uniform - the French word moderne has similar meaning, and the English word is modern.

The appearance of modernism was provoked by the desire to move to a qualitatively new level of life in all its manifestations. The new century and new technologies have generated the cult of science in its hypertrophied form, which can be traced in the same "Hyperboloid engineer Garin." The population of Europe in the 20s of the XX century renounced the heritage of the past and radically renewed the styles in architecture.

According to historians, the development of modernism has received impetus due to revolutions, both in the political arena and in the minds of people. In addition, the new direction was a reaction to the excess of pathos, old-fashioned and controversial, which were inherent in the same Victorian style. The catalyst for development was the technical achievements that enabled the use of materials previously unavailable due to the primitiveness of the production process.

Start

The ideological principle of modernism was laid in the middle of the century before last. The process was very difficult: it depended on small things, at first glance far from architecture. This period in history was marked by a surge in the development of industry. A lot of people went to work in large cities: because of the influx of new citizens, housing was sorely missed, new buildings were built in a hurry, in which apartments were surrendered to the new arrivals. To decorate the buildings with an aesthetic, expressed in monograms, did not hurry, giving preference to mature asceticism. In other words, the architecture of the second half of the 19th century pursued an exclusively practical benefit.

The basic postulates of modernism

Trifles can be looked for infinitely long, so we focus on the key points.

• Architectural modernism is created with the help of the most fashionable, the most modern consumables, and the designs are distinguished by a bizarre, non-standard form. Long live the revolution of industrialization! Buildings are built of glass, metal and concrete. Due to the fact that most of the enterprises producing classic bricks had too little knowledge about the same hardware, many of them went bankrupt without being able to join the new wave.
• The organization of the internal space is guided primarily by functionality. Rationality is placed at the forefront as opposed to the first half of the XIX century. Buildings for people, and not people for buildings - everything is subordinated to the comfort of a person who is striving in the New Time.
• A complete renunciation of the decorative elements, echoing the experience of the past. In general, the concept of "decoration" is relegated as unworthy of a new era, praised strict purity.
• The absence of a national bias, expressed in the specifics of the erection of the building or its design, the future is one for all.

Origins

Modernism in architecture is perceived as a synonym for modernity, but this is not true at least because its times are left behind, having frozen in the eighties of the last century. In this case, this direction is not integral - due to its subjectivity and many-sidedness, it gave rise to a number of branches that differ from each other.

• Natural architecture. Otherwise it is called organic. From the very title it becomes clear what purpose this direction pursues, but there are "buts". Adherents put it at the heart of the natural, soft forms inherent in the objects of the surrounding world, while the materials used in construction are not always limited to "stone and wood." The main thing is that the resources are safe, the forms - biological, and landscapes - natural.
• Bauhaus. Functionality in its pure form. Vibrantly-naked buildings, complete absence of decorative elements, combination of convenience and utilitarianism are identical to beauty.
• Art Deco. When studying the direction of modernism, it should be noted that this is the brightest, most provocative. The style plays in contrast to the Bauhaus, it is based on bold geometry, eclecticism, strict regularity (each room and subject has a place and time), courage of forms and an unrestrained craving for luxury expressed in the most daring materials from ivory to crocodile skin.
• Brutalism. It is expressed in dry technicality, absence of processing of surfaces of buildings. Just the case when the name fully reflects the essence.
• Internationalism. The main idea is to renounce any cultural heritage.
• Rationalism and constructivism. The main styles in the architecture of the USSR, we will discuss them in more detail below.

Materials and examples

The style of modernism in architecture began to develop under the influence of improving the technology of manufacturing new materials. For example, this direction owes its birth to the gardener Joseph Monier, who created reinforced concrete. Interestingly, it turned out to be accidental: initially he planned to simply make containers for plants that would satisfy all his needs.

The structures that were erected from this concrete were distinguished by an unprecedented ease, one can even say, airiness against the background of the usual cumbersome structures.

First he found application in industrial construction (not bad for a material that was originally supposed to be a tub, is not it?), And then moved into the construction of residential buildings. Thanks to this, amazing works of architecture were born for the time, affecting spectators with their scale.

The lightness and strength of reinforced concrete were modernized. The style of architecture has since turned into a world view: it allowed the construction of overlapping aprons at stations, rooms with stunning large spans and much more. It is worth mentioning as an example the Crystal Palace in London, the Brooklyn Bridge and, of course, the Dancing House in Prague. That's about it you need to talk separately.

Let's dance?

This composition consists of two parts in the form of cylinders - one of them is made in the classical style, and the second - in the destructive. The dancing house is called because it looks like a dancing woman with its outlines - a figure with a thin waist and a fluttering skirt creates the illusion of movement. Needless to say, the structure contrasts sharply with the classical houses that stand side by side.

Soviet Union

Modernism in architecture has not passed and our state. He demonstrated himself most vividly in the twenties of the last century, expressing himself in the directions of rationalism and constructivism. Let's consider each of them.

Rationalism

The term in Latin means "reasonable", and that says it all. His appearance was due to all the same technical progress. The aesthetic demands of people have changed and in Russia - monograms have given way to laconic forms, each of which carried a specific function. The abundance of space, simplicity, practicality, striving for the absolute, no "beauty for the sake of beauty." Modernism of the 20th century used other methods of influencing the perception of man. It should be noted that this direction is more "alive" than the constructivism that replaced it: rationalism tried to give the buildings a smooth, pleasing lines and forms for perception.

Any phenomenon, as a rule, is tied to personalities, this cup and this style has not passed. The ideological inspirer and leader of the direction was the architect and teacher Nikolai Ladovsky. Even his definition of architecture was permeated with the work of all life: he wrote that architecture operates with space, and space is the focus of all that the adherents of rationalism wanted to say. At the same time, the achievements of past years were not denied, but were adopted and processed in accordance with the idea. This direction is an important step in the formation of a new image of Soviet architecture, despite the fact that it was less popular than the constructivism that was advancing on his heels.

Constructivism

This is a design experience, which was highlighted by the modernism of the 20th century from the general series. This direction can be considered the apotheosis of practicality and the last word of technology.

Adherents of Constructivism, in contrast to rationalists, put the functionality of the building at the forefront, while neglecting the convenience of people. Everything was devoted to the great goal of the embodiment of progressive ideas. The achievements of the past are vehemently denied, something new is being created, radically different.

In practice, it was expressed in the notorious communal houses (in the common people "communal"), which negated the possibility of privacy: tiny rooms, common baths with showers, shared kitchens. Everything is subject to strict logic and patterns. Everything was fine on paper, but non-functional in everyday life.

If to take in general, then the styles of Russian architecture of that time pursued one goal: to step into the future as soon as possible, to remove the bonds of past stagnant years and to accompany each step with modern practicality, consistent clean lines.

Modernity

To date, there is no single fashionable style that would be used in the construction of buildings. Large-scale permissiveness allowed me to set off on all the grave - now everyone builds as he sees. However, the following modern styles of architecture can still be distinguished from all variety:

• Hi-tech is an ode to technical progress, an active opposition to naturalness.
• Biotec - ode to nature, the complete opposite of the first point: smooth natural lines, imitation of a living organism.
• Postmodernism is an ode to historical eclecticism and bizarre forms, a challenge to modernism in all its glory.
• Kitsch - an ode to insanity and bad taste. Grotesque, exaggeration of details. Aesthetics is secondary, the main thing is to challenge society and stand out from the general mass.

The result

Modernism in architecture has exhausted itself by the 80th years of the twentieth century. Of course, the buildings constructed in accordance with its canons are still functioning successfully, but nothing new has been erected. Despite the years of popularity behind, it is impossible to underestimate modernism - it is an important step towards the formation of architecture as a whole.