The International style

The international style was an architectural style which flourished between the 1920s and 1930’s in America but later spread throughout Europe. Deeply inspired by the Bauhaus movement, it also came about due to the disinterest in the ornamental elements on buildings from the previous styles.  Secondly there was a discovery of new materials including reinforced concrete, steel and glass. Lastly, due to an increase in the work industry there was a need for more commercial buildings.

Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson first started using the term after an exhibition that was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New york. This was an introduction of the International style. Philip Johanson described the style as being “probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic.” (Philip Johanson, n.d.)  Leading designers of this style include Walter Gropius, Le corbuiser, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe . Typical features include; flat roofs, no decoration, modern materials, rectilinear forms, open spaces and natural lighting.

Well known buildings of the International style:

The Fagus Factory by Walter Gropius

Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier

                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                     

First National City Bank, NYC

Barcelona Pavillion

The Barcelona Pavilion also sometimes refered to as the German Pavillion,  by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe is a perfect example of this style. It is interesting to mention since we are working on creating visuals of this building in another unit using programs such as 3DS Max and also Photoshop. The pavilion can be found in Barcelona, Spain as the name itself suggests. A rather simple building that represented Germany’s leap in the modern style after the World War 1. Materials that Van Der Rohe used include Steel and glass which show characteristics of the International Style apart from the flat roof, simplicity and open space. It is important to also note that the International style had a habit of connecting interior spaces to exterior ones which is exactly what this architect planned to do. Apart from these features the structure includes two outdoor pools, a bronze sculpture and various symmetrical marble walls which give life to the overall building. Only a few sources of artificial light were added to the building to illuminate the walls and interior at night. The Pavillion is open for the public till this day and has become quite a landmark.  

References:

Kroll, A., 2011. AD Classics: Barcelona Pavillion/ MIes Van der Rohe. ArchDaily. Available from: http://www.archdaily.com/109135/ad-classics-barcelona-pavilion-mies-van-der-rohe  [Acessed 30 May 2016]

Merin, G.,  2013. AD Classics: Modern Architecture International Exhibition / Philip Johnson and Henry-Russell Hitchcock. ArchDaily. Available from :http://www.archdaily.com/409918/ad-classics-modern-architecture-international-exhibition-philip-johnson-and-henry-russell-hitchcock [Acessed 30 May 2016]

Craven, J., 2016.     Modernism - Picture Dictionary of Modern Architecture. About Home. Available from: http://architecture.about.com/od/20thcenturytrends/ig/Modern-Architecture/International-Style.htm [Acessed 30 May 2016]

Visual arts cork. N.d. International Style of Modern Architecture . American Archietcture Series.  Available from: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/international-style.htm [Acessed 30 May 2016]