The document discusses Expressionist architecture, an avant-garde movement that sought to transform reality rather than imitate it. Expressionism emerged from Art Nouveau in the early 20th century and was influenced by the trauma of World War I, during which architects were freed from practical constraints. Notable Expressionist architects included Erich Mendelsohn, Joseph Maria Olbrich, Rudolph Steiner, Eero Saarinen, and Frank Gehry. Their works featured organic, non-rectilinear forms meant to express deeper meanings rather than mimic surface appearances.

1. EXPRESSIONIST ARCHITECTURE minu agarwal parmanand sinha

2. What is… And what is not…Expressionism The expressionist transforms reality rather than seeking to imitate it. An avant-garde movement and a famous "ism" among many other strains of modernism Appearances are only a semblance, claims the expressionist; we must transcend the superficial guise of reality to find true meaning. It is not Impressionism which seeks to capture transient nature at different moments, to reflect the diversity of the physical world. It is not Naturalism which records "life as it is"

3. Evolution of expressionism The genesis of expressionism lies in art nouveau. Art nouveau, principally a decorative convention turned to bionic and geomorphic forms. However art nouveau consumed itself in the need for more extravagant forms. Architects often spilled over exoticism, irrationality and ultimately this intense exaggeration was called Expressionism.

4. Antoni Gaudi bizzarre architecture had close affinity to expressionism. With the fundamental theme the preoccupation with the biomorphic fantasy. But the real birth of this ‘ism’ is bound up with traumas of world war I. Barred from the realities of construction sites, the architects were free to built castles in the air.

5. The situation was reminiscent of revolutionary France in the 18 th century when the unemployed Boullee and ledoux created their most extravagant fantasies. Boullee wrote of this project :”O Newton, as by the extent of your wisdom and the sublimity of your genius you determined the shape of the earth; I have conceived the idea of enveloping you in your own descovery”.

6. In place of Sullivan’s “ form follows function ” the architects of that time pronounced form rises out of the mystic abyss … “ It is still better to do violence to the purpose and cerate the true work of art than to let the purpose i.e. cold region, get the better of you”. - Hans Poelzig (1918)

7. Erich Mendelsohn The Einstein tower , Potsdam 1917-21 by Erich Mendelsohn is one of the first expressionist building What he built was not merely a laboratory; it was a monument… … with an anthromorphic form. The building was built in brick and covered with concrete.

8. Joseph Maria Olbrich There is a quality about many of Olbrich’s buildings. The hall, Gebaude (built in 1900) recalls the prows of a Viking ship. An inkling of constructional possibilities, even though the right building material is not yet available. -Mendelsohn.

9. Rudolph steiner (1924-1928) His strong expressionist designs for the second Goetheanum (house of speech) and surrounding buildings. The chimney of the boiler, like a stem, symbolizing the rising smoke. The transformer station- meant to express the intake, conversion, and output electrical power. The second goetheanum- an impressive sculpturous form built in concrete.

10. TWA terminal, NY: Eero saarinen Saarinen's terminal for TWA is sculpted as an symbol of flight - abstract, and not intentionally as a landing eagle as it has often been described. The expressive curves of the design create attractive, spacious halls and a rare degree of exhilaration for an airport terminal.

11. '...a building in which the architecture itself would express the drama and specialness and excitement of travel... a place of movement and transition... The shapes were deliberately chosen in order to emphasize an upward-soaring quality of line. We wanted an uplift.' Eero Saarinen

12. Sydney Opera House nine overlapping shells on the Sydney waterfront was chosen over more conventional square and circular buildings. The forms of the shells could be described as sections radiating from the bottom of an orange, or the frond of a palm plant unfurling in the sun.

13. Sydney Opera House The idea for an opera house for the city of Sydney wasn't a new one. It had been discussed as part of a post-World War II building program. But a lack of vision kept it on the back burner. In 1956 a competition was floated for its design and out of 233 entries Jørn Utzon was selected.

14. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Frank o gehry His buildings are powerful essays in geometric form and materials, and from an aesthetic standpoint they are among the most profound and brilliant works of architecture of our time. Whole building is made of irregular shapes having not a single straight wall.

15. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao The big surprise of the vast Guggenheim Bilbao is that, despite its complexity and unorthodox appearance, you never feel lost or confused inside With this work frank gehry became famous as “the other Frank” “with other guggenheim”.

16. conclusion Time flattens distinctions such between works with similar forms... but the history of architectural theory is about ideas and not just the shapes they make.