design thought
of modernism
current architecure
with modernism
Nowadays, modernism wasn't just another style. It presented a new way of thinking about architecture. By rejecting fancy ornament and embracing the minimalism, modernism has become the ongoing trend in 20th-century architecture and design. Whenever we discussed about modernism, the great and notable architects that we won’t forget to mention are Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and so on. Even until now, they are still influencing the style of architecture of our world.
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Norman Robert Foster, is a British architect whose company, Foster + Partners, maintains an international design practice famous for high-tech architecture.
One of the great architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe has come out with his own philosophy about architecture, “less is more”. Meaning that less complicated is better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated. Nowadays, simplicity is more preferable than complexity no matter in daily life or architecture. Cellphones are in slim and sleek design with minimal decorative element, even furniture. In architectural way, meaning that building should be get rid of extra decorative elements and constructed on essentials of clarity, utility and effect.
“Form follow function” I believe that every architecture student was familiar with this dictum expressed by Louis Sullivan. Most of the people prefer form more than function but not including me. For example, a building is design dramatically in form, with eye-catching exterior and extraordinary size of space, even it might be nice in first sight, but it doesn’t create resonance to people who are really concern about function. Function should come first because we design to solve problem, creating problem while solving problems. There are a lot of building in this world which form was designed at first then follow by function. For instance, Cybertecture Egg in Mumbai and Guggenheim Museum, New York. “Form follow function” or “function follow form”, it’s still a topic that people are still arguing. Not only in architecture, it happens on everything around us.
Modernism gets its good name back from Norman Foster. By the 1970s, Modernism had declined into a realm of boxy clichés. The London-based Foster, was one of the architects who turned things around by proving that to make good buildings, it would not be necessary to abandon the principles of Modernism—clear structure, lucid forms. One of his modernist design is Apple Store in Hangzhou, China.
This apple store is a 15-metre-high glazed box boasting a glowing ceiling and is one of Apple's largest retail outlets in Asia. The design can be describe as modernism because it fulfill some characteristic of modernism. Lets start with its form. It’s obviously a glass cube which promote simplicity in form. There’s no unnecessary decorative element can be found at the façade, which a hundred percent show the idea of “less is more”.
Its structure is made of industrialized material such as steel and glass as the wall. In modernism, glass and steel are new material that often been applied into a building, resulting in big openings. Yes, materials are in 90 degree, either vertical or horizontal. Curved element can’t be found there. This apple store is similar to one of the modernist architecture which is S.R. Crown Hall designed by Mies Van der Rohe. Both are geometrical in shape and minimal in design.
One of the highlight of Foster’s apple store is the glass staircase. Bravely use of fragile material, glass as the tread of a cantilevered staircase was one of big achievement in architecture. Staircases positioned on opposite sides of the store have floating glass treads that are held in place by embedded bolts. It’s minimal in appearance but concern in detail. The structure is visually exposed instead of hiding it. This including the whole structure of building. There’s no need to hide the column of roof truss of the building.
In conclusion, modernism wasn’t just a style for a certain period. It affect us until nowadays, in every single aspect of life. From food to fashion, automobile to architecture. It has create a great impact to this world. I personally prefer modernism as well. Everything is minimal to avoid unnecessary waste of material. Don’t forget about function while designing. It’s just nice for me.
