Architecture and the International Style
Architecture has evolved with time and one of the most important stages was the introduction of the International Style in the 1920s and 1930s. The International Style is concerned with the use of grids and this is particularly important in that it serves the purpose and addresses the major challenges that architects have to contend with. To be economical, the international style lays emphasis on volume over mass, and this is why the grids are composed of repetitive modular forms that make it easy to manipulate in the creation of many units within a building using both glass and concrete; which is a major challenge in other styles in architecture because of the overemphasis on stylistically eclectic structures (Moraglio 173).
The Efficiency of the International Style
The efficiency of the style is evident in the Seagram Building (Pane et al. 124). In as much as the style uses grids to meet the expectations of the society in an economical way, it is also important to note that in so doing, the style is a phenomenon that is honest, economic, and utilitarian. The very reason why structures are put up is that they should satisfy their roles, meaning that the style of a building, for example, should be indicative of the reason or the activities to take place in it, for example buildings meant for offices and the like. This implies that such a building will have to be made in a unique style that is consistent with its role.
Aesthetics in the International Style
Most importantly, architecture is an art that is also concerned with the satisfaction of the aesthetic taste of the society. International Style rejects ornament and color and uses lightweight, but the grids are made in such a manner that ultimately, they appeal to the aesthetic value of the society. This aspect is evident in the Bauhaus school in Germany and Villa Savoye in France that use simplicity to achieve beauty (Pane et al. 120).
Works Cited
Moraglio, Massimo. "La costruzione delle Alpi: Il Novecento e il modernismo alpino (1917–2017)[Building the Alps: The Twentieth Century and International Style Architecture] by Antonio De Rossi." Technology and Culture 59.1 (2018): 173-174.
Pane, I. F., et al. "The study of the influence of functionalism and international style on architecture development in Medan City." IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Vol. 309. No. 1. IOP Publishing, 2018.
