What makes it a modern home?
What we are now referring to as “Modern Architecture” did not even exist one hundred years ago. The use of the term “modern” when applied to architecture has changed with every decade in the last century. Our definition of “modern architecture” comes from a combination of two major types of influence occurring in the 1900’s.
This website celebrates the “wholeness” of this yang and yang. The first element I’ll call “ying” being aesthetics and open-mindedness towards buildings, materials and construction styles. These feelings were motivated by big changes, the ones influenced by famous buildings, famous people, and major events in history.
The second part or “yang” of “modern architecture” comes from the modern point of view that each man or woman can choose for themselves and that as individuals their choices have an impact on the greater whole. Together these two elements create an atmosphere for inspired design that takes care of the individual as well as the planet. The changes which created the ying and yang were fast and revolutionary compared to the rest of architectural history.
With artistic, intellectual and political concern with aesthetics and their meanings came radical social change. Europeans and Americans especially, rapidly began evolving into what we now think of as the current “Western Civilization.” Revolutions often require a revolt. The industrial revolution created several architectural revolutionary movements -some towards modernism - others away. These were a revolt against the symbols and details of a dirty past, against encrusting buildings with senseless and meaningless details, people wanted their buildings and surroundings to inspire a new and soaring time. Many felt that the old trimmings and flourishes often no longer had a reference to the truth.
Why would a modern university need battlements? Much of the changes in structure and materials didn’t come based on an initial function of the building or tradition as before, but now moves were happening quickly shaped more through lines of intellectual thought, psychology and in a broad way sociologically. For example, with the hope born of a new century people wanted to live in buildings as streamlined and progressive as the new trains, automobiles and machinery around them. Many wanted to un-mire themselves from the past.
Through out Europe and North America people saw themselves leaving behind Czars, entrenched class and gender distinctions, and the filth of sweatshops. Look at the times, and it can be said we no longer wanted to be restrained by tradition. People in America literally took flight away from the dusty stagecoaches and learned to cross the country through air.
Modern architecture and modern homes moved towards what was deemed more “pure” - more minimalistic. We have all heard the phrase “Form follows function;” which was coined in the twentieth century. (But what the ‘ole FFF means isn’t the same to everyone and a conversation I’d like to have with you later.)
For now let me point out that buildings built by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Robert Graves, and Frank Gehry vary a lot. And those are styles with a specific architect’s name stamped on them. Each of these architects did add to and changed our idea of what buildings in our new era could be like, but that doesn’t completely explain why there are modern buildings on this website that look like none of those aesthetics.
Events and inventions continued to change American ideals, desires, and philosophies as well as the way we built. Specifically for example, the science of the atomic bomb had a huge effect on our culture – creating a style called “Atomic Age” which gave us amoeba shaped coffee tables in pink and blue and a fabulous hotel in South Beach called the Clevelander. Just looking at the Clevelander you know it had to be a hot vacation spot for “The Jetsons.”
What forms the “yang” of my concept is the empowerment of everyday people. It is created by our sensitivity to aesthetics and the environment. It is a major part of what we are referring to within MoveModern as modern architecture and modern homes Everyday people - not just elite icons –have become open to the looks of buildings changing as quickly as other things in American culture. The American public and others realize they can voice opinions on how they want to live. They saw the effects of thinking that nature could always bounce back. They learned, hopefully just in time - that world resources, flora, fauna and the landscape need the husbandry of us all. They also put their money were their tastes and opinions lay. This put homes and other buildings on a level more in touch with people rather then tradition, politics or corporations, than say, the Sears Tower in Chicago.
At this point in time it’s become easier for the average person to buy or construct buildings in new shapes, with new techniques and while trying new materials. These people aren’t thought of as rebels but as inspirations. I believe it was a quieter movement then wars and major opera halls being built. People,: like architects, builders, and of course, the family who simply wanted to build their image of home, started to worry out loud about tangible issues.
Now the actual designers/builders became responsible for real life situations. The buyers were asking, “How affordable was it going to be to heat or cool?” Buyers and builders became concerned where the building materials came from or how getting materials like oolite was going to effect the environment. How was fossil fuel dependency going to affect their pockets, their adaptability, and the earth? A great end to a century where the words “modern architecture” was always in flux.
We, individually, became involved with how and where we lived. People and buildings have been changed by major events and ideas. We have seen them be devastating or experienced them as thrilling. We have learned through times of peace and war that one person’s principles or actions can effect a neighborhood, a society or even the health and “greenness” of the world.
We want to share that vision and through means like this website learn more about affecting the whole of our lives and the Earth. We are empowered. We are our own great architects. We see that a life unmarred by power, poverty, the subjugation of others or our planet is possible.
The new idea is to expand it. So our “modern architecture”, new or re-evolved, is smart, ingenious, ever changing, and ever protective of our resources.
written by Madeline Gutierrez a writer and modern home enthusiast
