Week 7- Heroic Modernism

 

Heroic Modernism


This week we studied heroic modernism. This was a really interesting period because new technology played a big role, along with functionalism principles. After World War I, many people believed it was time to switch up design and architecture and try something new. They started to reject old historical design styles and began focusing on new materials like steel and glass. They believed that the purpose of a building should determine its form. New innovations during this time looked to machines and technology for inspiration. Skyscrapers, automobiles, trains, and photography helped influence how designers thought about space and structure. Several architects are considered important to the Modernism era, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier. Each of them had different design styles but focused on function, form, and materials!


Favorite Examples: 

Barcelona Pavilion: open space, clean lines, and luxury materials like marble and glass to emphasize a modern environment


Barcelona Chair: designed for the Barcelona Pavilion, simple geometric form, and lacks unnecessary ornamentation.


Villa Savoye: I love this example because I did a precedent study on it in studio! Demonstrates Le Corbusier's 5 points of architecture.



Robie House: organic architecture and relationship between buildings and nature 


Farnsworth House: modern residential architecture with minimal structure and glass walls, also blurring the line between interior and exterior



Current Applications:


Apple Park: focuses on technology and function, uses modern materials



Seattle Central Library: Shows how modern architects still experiment with structure.

 


Modern Glass House: open plans and transparency



Larkin Administration Building: contemporary office that uses open layout and flexible workstations




One Step Further: Mies van der Rohe


For my one step further, I wanted to discuss Mies van der Rohe further. He had a philosophy that less is more, and that goes perfectly with what heroic modernism is. Mies believed strongly that architecture should have clarity and structure prioritized over decoration. In a lot of his buildings, we can see he uses steel frames and large glass walls to create open interiors that flow. His design is simple yet feels elegant and very intentional. It's beautiful! 


Reflection


I found this era to be very fascinating because it is another major shift in thinking. Function became more important than decoration. This meets the needs of modern society. Modern architecture like the Farnsworth House feels more timeless than older architecture and design styles. Even though minimal design can feel very simple, it can also have lots of meaning and logic behind it. We still see a lot of modern design principles in interiors and architecture today.

Comments

  1. Makayla OlarMarch 13, 2026 at 10:17 PM

    Allyssa! I love the Apple Park you included as your modern application! I think it's such a perfect example of the era and is such an interesting building. Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaMarch 14, 2026 at 11:42 AM

    Allyssa,
    I agree with MaKayla- Apple Park- WOW. Wonderful summary and many great examples from that period and current days, like the Seattle Central Library. Your reflection is thoughtful and I appreciate this post! 50/50 points

    ReplyDelete

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