Modern Architecture: Using Stahl House In Defense of Modernis
Part II: In Defense of Modernism
Modernism defines a dominant architectural style that had its roots in the 20th century[1]. It entails the incorporation of heavy geometric and asymmetrical designs that mostly embrace minimalism and optimizes functionality through rational material use and integration of innovation in coming up with the designs. When talking about modernism as a defining feature of modern architecture, there are fundamental concepts that one must explore. The understanding of contemporary architecture entails the incorporation of machine aesthetics, the distinction between what an ornament is, and how it affects modern architectural designs and how technology affects the form and development of contemporary architecture[2]. In this assignment, the emphasis is on explaining the specific manner in which the Stahl House exemplifies modernism and related concepts of modern architecture. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Machine aesthetics, as applied in modern architecture, refers to the application of machines in enhancing the beauty of modern architectural designs. In other words, machine aesthetics defines something that is machine-made and acknowledges aspects such as industrialization, mass production, and engineering concepts that apply the use of metals structures to create an eclectic fashion to improve the appearance or the beauty of architecture. In the context of modern architecture, machine aesthetic can be understood as the integration and application of structural principles to improve the appearance of modern architectural buildings. The continued interaction between humans and machines increases the rate or level of pervasiveness and variance, which helps in enhancing the capacity of humans to use the machine in completing buildings of great height and high aesthetic value.
The Stahl House is a perfect manifestation of the application of machine aesthetic. It represents a modern architectural building with a high sense of beauty. Computer use in designing the appearance of the building and the finishing of the interior and exterior views of the building depicts and demonstrates high integrability of mechanization in architecture. The glasses that surround the building and the high-raised beams were erected through the use of machines giving the building such a perfect architectural look and value.
Another imperative aspect of modern architecture is ornamentation. From what is commonly known, ornaments are used to add a sense of beauty. The same applies to architectural ornaments. Precisely, ornament in architecture defines any element that is added to a building or any architectural structure to decorate it and increase its sense of embellishment[3]. Ornamentation plays a crucial role in embellishing modern architectural designs and can be categorized into three distinct categories, including mimetic ornaments, organic ornaments, and applied ornaments. These three categories play distinct roles in architecture. For example, mimetic ornaments help in bringing out the symbolic significance of a modern building. The applied ornaments play a role in adding beauty to a structure in an extrinsic view while the organic ornaments apply the functionality of materials in a building and ensure the materials used are inherent in the building and the architectural designs intended.
Critique of ornaments helped significantly in defining the scope of modern aesthetic. All the mentioned categories of architectural ornaments are applied and integrated into modern architectural designs and structures to improve the appearance and the beauty of the houses[4]. Stahl House is a perfect example of what role ornamentation plays in modern architecture. The arrangement of the wall and the glasses are designed in such a way that the sole purpose is to give a lasting sense of beauty. The desired beauty is not only appealing to human eyes but also enhances the personal taste of satisfaction. Ideally, the judicious, as well as the intelligent use of applied ornaments in modern architectural designs, define most aspects of western architecture, which are mostly designed independently. However, the critiques of classical ornaments and its associated use argued that it somehow had no purpose. In their view, it only focused on enhancing the beauty of the building and not concentrate on important matters like the quality of the building and how the building and different architectural structures met the required architectural thresholds.
Modern architecture and technology are significantly interlinked, and the interplay between them is indispensable[5]. The application of modern technologies in architecture has significantly influenced critical decisions in architecture. Such decisions include the design of the building and the structures, the locations, and the presumptions that have to be made to ensure that the buildings and the structures that are constructed meet the desired and accepted standards. To achieve the desired appearance of the building, for example, there must be accurate in the creation and combination of construction materials. Such high levels of accuracy have been achieved significantly through the integration of modern technologies in architectural works. In the context of modern architecture, technology has been used to produce the consistency and compatibility of the architectural structures. Through such consistency and compatibility, different parts of the architectural buildings can be embedded to enhance permanence.
Different aspects of modern technologies have also been applied in contemporary architecture, and these have enhanced the output of architects significantly. For example, technology has been involved in the building of pillars and the construction of high walls with very large outfalls. The increased value and merit in the integration of technology in architecture has not only enhanced the aesthetic value of modern buildings but also saved human efforts a great deal. Machines can be integrated into complex construction initiatives as well as coming with architectural designs through computers. Besides, the multi-dimensional designs can be generated through the use of technology to give a clear picture of what any building would look like before devolving efforts into the construction process. In simple terms, the interplay between technology and architecture can be understood by considering the two concepts as dependent and inherent with one another. Technology is architecture, and architecture is technology. The implication of this is that both architecture and technology require one another for the full realization and achievement of their purpose. The discovery of modern architectural realities has been significantly achieved through the use of advanced technologies, and therefore the two concepts are inseparable from the other.
In terms of ensuring effective management of social behavior, modern the interplay between modern architecture and technology has also been used. In the contemporary world, there are issues such as rapid population increase, which have affected the moral standards of humanity[6]. As a result, steady communication and swift shift in human behavior brought about by technological innovations, the living spaces, and the issues related to places of residence became a significant issue. The inadequacy of resources could not allow most families to afford the necessary facilities and utensils in their houses. Thanks to modern architecture that integrated the use of technology. Such issues have been solved through modern architectural designs. The integration of different technological tools in plumbing, installation of heating mechanisms, and crane installations in buildings have solved many challenges that were facing humanity and thereby creating conflicts among them. Stahl Building is a representation of the output of such modern architecture. It entails structures and construction designs that enhance human experience and makes humans residing in it to enjoy life. It has advanced technological installations such as the internet, which has increased communication among its users. This has also promoted utopia, which has become significantly translated into modernist forms in the wake of the industrial revolution.
In conclusion, the Stahl House depicts aspects of modernism in many ways. It demonstrated the integration of modern technology in architecture to achieve essential elements of architecture such as machine aesthetics and the value of the interplay between technology and architecture. The design of the building demonstrates the application of machines in designing the walls and the pillars which do not only enhance compatibility and permanence but also play a crucial role in improving the human experience by providing a solution to some of the most common issues facing the contemporary society like the need to house the steadily rising population.
Bibliography
Bremner, G. A. “Iron, Ornament and Architecture in Victorian Britain: Myth and Modernity,
Excess and Enchantment.” (2016): 557-560.
Carranza, Luis E., and Fernando Luiz Lara. Modern architecture in Latin America: art,
technology, and utopia. University of Texas Press, 2015.
Jackson, Iain, and Jessica Holland. The Architecture of Edwin Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew: Twentieth-Century Architecture, Pioneer Modernism, and the Tropics. Routledge, 2016.
Kusno, Abidin. Behind the Postcolonial: Architecture, urban space and political cultures in
Indonesia. Routledge, 2014.
Preiser, Wolfgang FE, Jacqueline Vischer, and Edward White. Design Intervention
(Routledge Revivals): Toward a More Humane Architecture. Routledge, 2015.
Norberg-Schulz, Christian. “Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture
(1979).” Historic Cities: Issues in Urban Conservation 8 (2019): 31.
[1] Jackson, Iain, and Jessica Holland. The Architecture of Edwin Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew: Twentieth-Century Architecture, Pioneer Modernism, and the Tropics. Routledge, 2016.
[2] Carranza, Luis E., and Fernando Luiz Lara. Modern architecture in Latin America: art, technology, and utopia. University of Texas Press, 2015
[3] Bremner, G. A. “Iron, Ornament and Architecture in Victorian Britain: Myth and Modernity, Excess and Enchantment.” (2016): 557-560
[4] Bremner, G. A. “Iron, Ornament, and Architecture in Victorian Britain: Myth and Modernity, Excess and Enchantment.” (2016): 557-560.
[5] Kusno, Abidin. Behind the Postcolonial: Architecture, urban space and political cultures in
Indonesia. Routledge, 2014
[6] Preiser, Wolfgang FE, Jacqueline Vischer, and Edward White. Design Intervention (Routledge Revivals): Toward a More Humane Architecture. Routledge, 2015.