Rationalism originated in ancient Greece with philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato who emphasized reasoning. René Descartes was a pivotal figure who introduced rationalism and rigorous reasoning from mathematics into philosophy. In the 18th century, rationalism influenced Enlightenment thinkers and architectural styles like Neoclassicism which used symmetrical geometric forms. In the 20th century, early modernist movements like the Italian Gruppo 7 applied rationalist principles to building designs focusing on functionality, simple forms, and industrial construction methods. Later neo-rationalist architects continued this emphasis on logic, order, and practicality.

1. RATIONALISM
AND ITS INFLUENCES
GAGANDEEP KAUR,
VANDANA SRINIVAS
GARIMA BANSAL

2. ANCIENT TIMES EMBODIED THE CONCEPT OF RATIONALISM
The first Western philosopher to stress
rationalist insight was Pythagoras , of the 6th
century BCE.
Plato so greatly admired the rigorous
reasoning of geometry that he is alleged to
have inscribed over the door of his Academy
the phrase “Let no one unacquainted with
geometry enter here.”
Aristotle is credited with the earliest study of
formal logic, and his conception of it was the
dominant form of Western logic until 19th
century .

3. FATHER OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY
The first modern rationalist was Descartes, an
original mathematician whose ambition was to
introduce into philosophy the rigor and
clearness that delighted him in mathematics.
He came up with I THINK THEREFORE I AM.
RENE DESCARTES
(31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650)
Rational architects, following the philosophy
of Rene Descartes emphasized geometric
forms and ideal proportions.

4. ROCOCO ART
Rococo was considered a frivolous art,
exclusively for the aristocracy,
unaware of social problems and only
interested in pleasure.
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J.H.Fragonard, the swing, 1767
Delicate colors
Curving forms
Impurity in the behavior of subjects
Woman is objectified
Playful

5. J.H.Fragonard, the stolen kiss, 1780 . Sudden climax: his brief clasp, her possible retreat. The story implies a
quick event.

6. 18TH CENTURY
RATIONALISM
AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
• Strong criticism from
intellectuals like Voltaire in
1700’s
• Serious art for serious times
• Scenes of heroism and virtue
• Looked back to the art of
antiquity
ACQUES LOUIS DAVID (1748-1825)
'Napoleon Crossing the Alps', 1801

7. NEOCLASSICISM
• Inspired by the rediscoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum
• Discovery of the genuine classic interior
• Fresh influx of Greek architectural examples, the Greek revival
• The Enlightenment Architectural Rationalism was focused on being symmetrical,
having accurate measurements of classic shapes, and functionality
• Many new institutions developed like public libraries, coffee houses and debating
societies

8. Jacques Germain Soufflot
The Pantheon
in Paris, France,1756
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pantheon_in_Paris.html

9. William Thornton
The United States Capitol
in Capitol Hill, Washington,
D.C. United States of America,
in 1791
http://www.politicspa.com/718-morning-buzz-2/38206/us-capitol/
http://ushistoryimages.com/us-capitol.shtm

10. William Kent
Holkham Hall
In Holkham, Norfolk
In 1715
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Plan_of_
Holkham_Hall.png

11. 20TH CENTURY RATIONALIST
ARCHITECTURE
Conception of an architecture
• Close to logic and rationality
• Based on pure rhythm and the simple constructiveness
• Reason
(based on availability of resources and needs)
They hoped to adapt the conditions of architectural production to the
world of industry.
They were involved in making public buildings and housing.

12. We can divide the 20th century rationalism into two parts:
• Early 20th-century rationalism
Gruppo 7 : group of Rational Architects include –
Guiseppe Terragni, Carlo Enrico Rava, Luigi Figini and Gino
Pollini, Guido Frette, Ubaldo Castagnoli and Sebastiano Larco
• Neo-rationalism (Late 1960s)
Inspired by both the Enlightenment and early-20th century rationalism
In Italy -Carlo Aymonino , Aldo Rossi, and Giorgio Grassi.
In Germany Oswald Mathias Ungers, Hans Kollhoff, and Max Dudler

13. Giuseppe Terragni
- Italian architect
Casa del Fascio
built in Como,
northern Italy in 1936
Fig. 1., Casa del Fascio, Available from:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/manzoni/interesting/, Accessed
on:15.10.13

14. Casa del Fascio
http://followthecreativepath.blogspot.in/2011/07/casa
-del-fascio.html
http://architecturality.wordpress.com/tag/transparency/

15. Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini
SS. GIOVANNIE PAOLO CHURCH
SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING
Fig 4, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, Italy, Available from:Fig 5, Social Services Building, Available
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g187870- from:http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Ivrea/Social%20
d243058-i39460644-Santi_Giovanni_e_PaoloServices%20Building, Accessed on :15.10.13
Venice_Veneto.html#39722196, Accessed on:15.10.13
• The church and adjoining youth centre
have a very irregular form
• This building consisted of a cultural
center, a library, infirmary for the industrial
city of Ivrea, in particular for the people,
who worked for Olivetti.

16. Aldo Rossi
Quartier Schützenstrasse, Berlin
•urban structure of residential apartments mixed with commercial use.
http://www.iam-architect.com/aldo-rossi/
http://www.arcspace.com/features/aldo-rossi-/quartierschutzenstrasse/

17. Carlo Aymonino
Monte Amiata Housing
A residential complex in
the Gallaratese district
of Milan, Italy
corbu2.caed.kent.edu
Fig 6, Gallaratese Ii Housing, Available
from:http://mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Milan/Gall
aratese%20II%20Housing, Accessed on:15.10.13

18. Fig 6,Plans and sections of the Gallaratese Housing,Available from:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/134430179/Plans_-Sections-and-Elevations--Gallaratese-Housing-Block---Aldo-Rossi, Accessed on 15.10.13

19. References:
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Canniffe , Eamonn , The Politics of the Piazza: The History and Meaning of the
Italian Square,
Polemical Rationalism, Richard Etlin, Available from:
http://www.academia.edu/4546673/Polemical_Rationalism
ArchiTexts Association, Available from:
http://architextsassociation.com/2012/09/19/giuseppe-terragni-and-therationalist-architecture-in-italy/