The document provides an overview of modernism as a philosophical and artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a departure from romanticism and Victorian styles due to industrialization and societal shifts. It highlights key figures in modern architecture such as Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Eames couple, detailing their contributions and iconic works that reflect modernist principles. Additionally, the document outlines the importance of materials, design elements, and the impact of economics and technology on the evolution of modernism.

1. M O D E R N I S M
History II Research
Azra Maliha
201420058

2. What is modernism?
Timeline-Different sub periods
Flashback before modernism
Determinants of the period design
Some famous modernism architecture- Plans/Sections
Common materials used
Famous designers
• Louis Sullivan
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Charles and Ray Eames
Comparisons
Modern application
References

3. What is modernism?
Modernism is a concept which embraces philosophy of
design and resultant stylistic features. It was a
philosophical movement which rose and spread along
with cultural trends and renovations in Western society
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, right after
the World War I.
There are numerous modernism movements:
Expressionism, Aesthetic movement, Art deco, Art
nouveau, Arts and crafts movement, Bauhaus,
Constructivism, Contemporary realism, Cubism, Dada,
De stijl, Expressionism and many more

6. Timeline-Different sub periods
There is no clear-cut year or time of
when the Modernism movement
evolution took place. With the growth
of industrialization in 19th century,
Victorian style and furniture slowly
faded. Heavy machineries were made
which made mass production of
furnitures possible. From 1900s
onwards, modern arts and furniture
styles started emerging.

7. before modernism
• According to one critic, modernism started
developing when people got fed up of Romanticism
period, the period of religious, political and
dominant social order views. Their revolting nature
flourished very progressively during 1900 to 1930.
• The dominant nature of Victorian England were
opposed from 1850s. Victorian style era started
fading when people began to feel rebellious, wanted
something new and which everyone can have, not
just the upper-class people
• Nihilism, the rejection of all religious and moral
principles, was one of the characteristics of the
beginning of Modernism.

8. • Industrial Revolution continued with the inventions of various machines like
steam-powered industrialization, developed railways, industries, etc.
• In late 1800s, where people’s interest began on manufacturing furnitures through
machinery rather than hand crafted.
• Behind every change in Design History, there will be direct relation with that
period’s economy, politics, art history and technology. In modernism movement,
the consumers(public) play a huge part.
• After the Second World War there was an expansion of cities and suburbanization
in the U.S.
• Along with that emerged a demand for modern furnishings for the new, quickly
built modern homes
Determinants of the period design

9. Famous Architecture examples:
Interior Rooms/Plans
Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye
• Late 1920s Le Corbusier was one among the
internationally known architects.
• The Villa Savoye is probably his best-known
building from the 1930s, and had great influence on
international modernism.
• It was designed addressing "Five Points", the basic
tenets in his new architectural aesthetic:
1. Support of ground-level pilotis, elevating the
building from the earth
2. Purposeful roof, serving as a garden and terrace
3. Free floor plan allowing walls to be placed freely
and only where aesthetically needed
4. Long horizontal windows, providing light and
ventilation
5. Freely-designed facades

13. Mies Van Der Rohe's Farnsworth House
This house was designed in 1945 and constructed in
1951.
It is a vital part of American iconography, which
represents both the International Style of architecture
and the modernism movement’s desire to express the
smooth, streamline design of Modern structure with the
organic environment of the surrounding nature.

15. used in architecture
Glass
1
Steel
2
Concrete
3
“Mud” or Terra
cotta
4

16. Pioneers of Modernism

17. Louis Sullivan
1856-1924
He is known as the America’s first
modern architect. He created original
forms and modern details instead of
copying the historical styles. Sullivan
created aesthetic unity in tall buildings
whose concepts are mentioned in his
most famous essay The Tall Office
Building Artistically Considered.

18. He was the mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright along with Adler. In the late 80s,
the mass production of steel influenced the construction of tall buildings,
hence came all the architectural theories and systems about load bearing.
Sullivan believed that the exterior of the tall buildings should reflect its
interior function, or in his words “forms follow function”.
Some of his design practices:
• The work of Louis Sullivan is often associated with the Art Nouveau
movement.
• He believed that ornaments should derive from nature rather than
classical architectures.
• He used to use terracotta in his architectural ornaments than stone or
masonry as they are lighter and malleable.
• Massive semi-circular arch was one of his signature design elements

19. Famous works:
Auditorium Building:
• Built in 1889, Chicago- Louis Sullivan and Adler.
• A very well designed with load-bearing concept.
• One of the most innovative features- the massive raft
foundation. It was made because beneath the Auditorium
there is soft blue clay to a depth of over 100 feet, which
made conventional foundations impossible.
• The resulting raft distributed the weight of the massive
outer walls over a large area.

21. Famous works:
Prudential (Guaranty) Building:
• Was opened in 1896, one of his outstanding creations
• Terra cotta ornamentation covering two full sides of
façade of the building makes it so unique and bold
• Ornamentations were inspired by flowers, seedpods, and
the spreading branches of a tree

25. Frank Lloyd Wright
1867-1959
He is regarded as one of the most significant
architects of America and pioneers of
modernism. Wright was influenced by
English Arts and Crafts, native Mayan and
Amerindian architecture. He also fancied
Japanese architecture inspired by nature.

26. Wright often designed and dictated the Organic architecture theme.
Along with infrastructure, he also paid attention to smaller details like
metalwork, furnitures, stained-glass windows, murals and light fixtures.
Visually, his furnitures looked arts and crafts. His admiration towards
Japanese arts was very strong. His ability to bring the outside
surroundings inside became his trademark.
Some of Japanese (organic)architecture features:
• Strong connection with nature and landscape, design followed
horizontality, symbolizing domination over nature
• Low ceilings, integration of natural light and view through thoughtful
window placements
• Brick, wood, stone, tile, metal were the materials used

27. Famous works:
Winslow House and Prairie house
• This house was for his first client, built
it 1893, River Forest. He applied is
“organic architecture” theme
extensively in this.
• He reflected the need of his client,
nature and materials available of that
site
• Similarly he also made Prairie house
which later became one of his
trademark works
• Some features of the house:
• Low pitched roofs, long rows of casement
windows
• Use of native materials, stained wood (not
painted)

30. Famous works:
Falling Water
• Falling water, Pennsylvania, constructed in 1937. Possibly the most famous work of modern architecture
• He designed this picnic home for the Kaufmann family. He said, “I thought I would place the home near the waterfall, not over it. I want you to live
with the waterfall, not just look at it, and for it to become an integral part of your lives.”
• The entire house including the interiors are made from the local and natural materials.
• Perpendicular stacked shelves of concrete terraces hang over the waterfall.
• Rusticated masonry forms the chimney and the walls, looking like natural shelves.

34. Famous works:
The Robie House Interiors
• Frank Lloyd contracted with architect Herman von
Holst and interior architect George Mann Niedecken
to manage the project. He not only designed the
house, but all of the interiors, the windows, lighting,
rugs, furniture and textiles.

36. Furnitures :

38. Charles Eames
1907–1978
Ray Eames
1912–1988
Charles Ormond Eames was an American
designer, architect and film maker. His wife Ray
Kaiser Eames, and he, are responsible for
groundbreaking contributions in the field of
architecture, furniture design, industrial design,
manufacturing and the photographic arts.

39. After their marriage, they formed a design partnership which became a
significant source of modern design between 1941 to 1978. the couple
played a major role in some of the most famous furnitures of Herman
Miller company.
Some of their famous works:
• Developed plywood splints for the USA navy in 1941-1942
• Experimented with plywood chairs, children’s furnitures in 1945
• Herman Miller got the exclusive rights for market and exhibit Eames
plywood furniture between 1946-1948

42. Famous Furnitures for Herman Miller:
Lounge chair & Ottoman- 1956

43. Famous Furnitures for Herman Miller:
LCM dining chair- 1946 Molded plywood chair DAR shell chair- 1950-1953 Wire mesh chair-1951-1953

44. Famous Furnitures for Herman Miller:
Storage units- 1950

46. VICTORIAN ERA MODERNISM

47. MODERNISM
CONTEMPORARY
FUTURISTIC

48. REFERENCES
• https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/modernism--3
• http://www.theartstory.org/section_movements.htm
• https://www.thespruce.com/things-you-should-know-about-mid-century-1391827
• https://en.wikipedia.org/
• https://www.pinterest.com/katcolor/vintage-color-palettes/?lp=true
• http://farnsworthhouse.org/
• https://www.thoughtco.com/louis-sullivan-americas-first-modern-architect-177875
• https://www.slideshare.net/parseltonguerucha/louis-sullivan
• https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/academic/artsletters/art_philosophy/humanities/history_of_modernism.htm
• http://www.hodgsonruss.com/Louis-Sullivans-Guaranty-Building.html
• https://books.google.ae/books?id=J_NcHIW-
zt8C&pg=PA269&lpg=PA269&dq=determinants+modernism+design&source=bl&ots=heXCC
Nw3ZE&sig=T-
yVdKAGJoJfRF2VLQfvgGArqLo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx4Jqv9NTWAhULtBoKHd
0wA4sQ6AEIOzAG#v=onepage&q=determinants%20modernism%20design&f=false
• http://inar323.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/frank%20lloyd%20wright.pdf
• Furniture in history- 3000 B.C.-2000 A.D. by Leslie Pina