Their works are pretty cool ...WRIGHT? LOL -Frank Lloyd Wright & Loius Sullivan

America had its own fair share of brilliant architects that followed the style of international architecture. Two of the leading architects were Frank Lloyd Wright and Loius Sullivan.

First up, Architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Oh the famous Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous architect with a very interesting personal life. Big blow though, we are here to discuss his architectural works and not to pound on gossip. (we’ll do that later ..im joking). So Frank Lloyd Wright has numerous famous creations. One of them is the very, very famous fallingwater residence (or also known as the kaufmann residence) located in Pennsylvania, built on a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township. As I’ve said before, this is one of the smartest architectural works I’ve ever seen. Who wouldn’t want to live ON a waterfall?! I’ve always wondered what It would be like waking up every morning to the sound of clashing waters and having the freedom of climbing out the window and diving to the water below. (LOL, doesn’t look very safe though). Lucky Kaufmann’s! Following the international architectural style, the fallingwater is cubic in shape and owned several glass windows. Frank Lloyd inspired many modern day architects to design residential homes like this one. I’ve recently just seen one on the movie “faster,” but I just can’t lay my hands on the name of that residence but I’m in love with it. It was a modern day version of the fallingwater-It overlooked nature and had long glass components as walls.

His other works included the Guggenheim museum which had another amazing concept behind it. The winding of the structure made it experiential to all its guests. I’ve heard that it had a circular ramp in the interior which went all the way to the top with all the works of art that belonged to the museum, plastered to the wall. In order for guests to view all of the works, they had to follow through this passage, going down, without even knowing it! Now that is cool.

Frank Lloyd Wright had many other accomplishments in life. He was not only an architect, but he was also an interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 projects in which 500 were completed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright)

Loius Sullivan

They say that he is the father of skyscrapers, but I am not so familiar with the skyscrapers that he has created. The only structures created by Louis Sullivan, that I do know of are the Wainwright Tomb and the the Auditorium Building in Illinois.

The thing that struck me the most about the wainwright tomb was the domed cube . The revival of domes were not really practiced a lot during his time.

Just to boast. loljk

Romanesque architecture ✔

Gothic Architecture ✔

Renaissance Architecture ✔

Baroque & Roccoco ✔

Colonial &Post colonial Architecture ✔

Art Nouveau ✔

Art deco ✔

Industrial revolution ✔

Bauhaus ✔

International architecture ✔

Loius sullivan

Le Corbusier ✔

Frank Lloyd Wright

Mies Van der Rohe ✔

last two! Im on a roll!

kthanksbye gotta do million other things now

that cheese chapel- Mies Van Der Rohe & Le Corbusier

In Europe, Mies Van der Rohe and Le Corbusier dominated the modern world of Architecture. Mies Ven Der Rohe was a self-thought Architect, who converted from building neo classical style residential structures to modern buildings. He studied philosophies from many architects before him, which lead him to create designs based on his own well thought philosophies. His structures may look like the stereotypical modern structures that, like the others created at that time, had the same features: cubic in shape,flat roof, favoured the use of glass and steel and the rejection of ornamentation, but they all had a well thought philosophy behind them. Though many people have viewed as his architectural works as unliveable and “cold” I believe that he embraced modernism (materials, form) and wanted to create a style which celebrated architecture in its most raw form.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Mies_van_der_Rohe)

My favourite of his works would have to be the very famous Farnsworth House. The skin and bone concept, the open feel and lack of coverage is something very new compared to the conventional homes that we live in today. He defied the rules of what a normal home should have and implied that it is acceptable (and has become even desirable to some) to live in a structure like that.

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Le Corbusier/Jeanneret , being another one the leading fathers of International architecture in Europe, incorporated the same style but he added his own elements to this style of designing. I noticed that instead of the stereotypical flat roofs and large glass windows as walls that were trending in the modern world of architecture at that time; he implemented flexibility with his structures by not only designing cubic forms, but also used curves, arcs and circles as well. He was also fond of using small windows. Structures which exemplify these features include the Villa Savoye and The Notre Dame du Haut. However, the edginess of his structures, use of material (concrete) and lack of bold colours kept it within the boundaries of international architecture.

I have heard that the Notre dame de haut has a spectacular interior. There are no intricate ornamentations, no magnificent paintings on the ceilings and no splashing colours on the inside, yet it provides a wondrous experience for those who enter, so I’ve heard. Le Corbusier was able to create a space which not only suitable for the acoustics (helped by its shape) but created an experience for his audience by thoughtfully punching a few holes here and there to emphasize a play on light. Just by doing something as simple as that. I am always impressed how these architects come up with spaces which are not only an area constricted by four walls, but it also moulds our emotions which in turn controls our activities.

While Architects who followed the baroque style, amazes us by including beautiful, delicate patterns and detailing on the facades and interiors and such, Architects who have picked up on the international style, does this by just adding simple and raw elements to their structures.

Around the world - international architecture

Like Germany’s Bauhaus style Architecture, America had its very own version- international architecture. I noticed that both styles owned the very same features: very minimal on decorative detailing, displayed flat facades and was cubic in form. The simplicity implied in this style, was emphasized with the use of glass in their structures.

I would just like to add that I am really drawn to modern minimalist architecture, the effortless feel, just screams honesty and timelessness. My favorite structure that was influenced by this international style would have to be the falling water by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is well known around the world for its setting and modern design and ability to stay true to its natural surroundings.

boringly beautiful Bauhuas Architecture

Bauhaus Architecture.

its function over style.

From what I took in, Bauhaus incorporated the style it is well known for today for rational reasons. Its simplicity, stiffness and the disregard of bright bold colours were adapted because of the downfall of the economy in Germany after the war. Everything had to be simple and had to follow the way of living during that time.

Bauhaus style structures displayed no form of sweeping or curves in their facades. Instead, everything was flat and …well, flat. Although there were no ornamentation, no colours other than neutral black, grey and white and was also very raw and cubic, the Bauhaus style is still being appreciated today. Famous architects such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe are influenced by this style.

depite its simple demeanor, its simplicity and minimalistic-ness is very easy and pleasing to the eyes and can be very easily viewed as sophisticated and timeless.

Creative thinking.

Art Noveau

Art Noveau was a style that preceded a style which was almost like its own - art deco. Although these two styles might seem very similar, they can also be easily distinguished. Art Noveau was more ornamented, while art deco was more on the simplistic and sleeker side. Art deco adapted more geometric and symmetrical design, while art noveau stuck with more curves and flowery patterns.

Art Noveau emerged from the industrial revolution with expressions of art. They started implementing the use of patterns and designs on both the facades and the interiors seen on the structures belonging to the style. I guess that they were sick of the uniformity and dullness of the use of plain silver and steel and the restrictions brought on by the use of these materials during the industrial revolution, so they responded to that uniformity with the use of playful colours such as bright yellow, blue, etc. and went back to using organic materials, such as bricks. They defied the stiffness of the structures during the industrial revolution, and started using more curves.

Art deco, which followed after art noveau, still used certain aspects of the style before it but only to a certain extent. Art deco was a more developed and more stylized version of art noveau, where their structures appear more formal and more grandeur-looking as compared to art noveau structures.

All pretty looking.

Art Deco

From the name of the style itself, yes, you guessed it; art deco was a decorative style. Although it was not so much as compared to the intricate detailing practiced during the baroque or rococo period, we can still clearly see the play on different types of patterns and motifs on facades during this art deco era.

Noticeably, Art deco was influenced greatly from previous styles; from eras such as the from the Babylonian period, where there was borrowed use of ziggurats, egyptian motifs and emphasis on height. This time though, it was brought to a whole new level of sky-scraping heights and there was also a play on colour. Loud colours such as gold, yellow and terra cotta were applied. What I noticed about the structures that were erected during this era, is that the linearity and geometry overpowered the decorative sweeping and motif patterns on the structures. I guess with the application of somewhat bold colours with a concentration of motif designs or patterns, the height and asymmetry saved the structures from looking tacky.

With the application of symmetry and linearity added with the massive height of the structures emphasized not only a certain glamour and lavishness about these structures but also power – perfect for corporate functions, luxurious residences and for King Kong to climb on.

We can still see so many art deco structures preserved today, why? Its style provides for even todays modern functions. In countries like the states, their art deco structures stands as their most prestigious and well known buildings. In new york, the prestigious empire state building blends in perfectly with the high standard of living of its fellow new yorkians.