Wk. 12 - Modernism in America pt. 1

Summary

Introduction to Modernism in America

Modernism began in Germany and France but spread globally through travel, publications, and exhibitions. Post-World War I and II displacements led many Modernist designers to settle in America, significantly influencing American architecture and interior design. Pre-war Modernism was largely theoretical, while post-war Modernism became more practical and widely applied.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Although his work was not included in the "International Style" exhibition, Frank Lloyd Wright was a major figure in early American Modernism. His notable works in the 1920s and 30s include the Hollyhock House and La Miniatura, both in California, characterized by decorative concrete work and textile blocks. Wright also founded the Taliesin Fellowship, an educational community for architecture students. His later projects, like Fallingwater and the S.C. Johnson building, showcased integration with nature and innovative interior design, including custom furniture.

Hollyhock House

La Miniatura

Rudolph Schindler

An Austrian architect educated in Vienna, Schindler initially collaborated with Wright before establishing his own practice in California. His work, such as the Schindler House and Kings Road House, introduced the idea of "Space Architecture," focusing on how structure and materials shape interior experience. He used both high-end and economical materials to create unique, liveable spaces.

Schindler House

Kings Road House

Richard Neutra

Also from Austria, Neutra emphasized tailoring architecture to the specific needs of clients and their environments. His style was geometric and airy, aligning with West Coast Mid-Century Modernism. His major works include the Lovell House - America's first steel-framed house - and the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, which exemplified integration with the landscape.

Lovell House

Kaufmann House

William Lescaze

Lescaze brought European modernist ideals to the U.S., establishing his practice in New York. His partnership with George Howe produced the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society building - the first modern American skyscraper. His own studio and home embodied modernist principles.

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building

Philip Goodwin and Edward Stone

They made Modernism more visible to the public with their design of the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1939, helping legitimize the style in the commercial sphere.

Museum of Modern Art

Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer

Invited to Harvard in 1937, Gropius led the Graduate School of Design and established the Architects Collaborative. They were responsible for Harvard's first modern buildings and further embedded European modernist ideologies into American academia and practice.

Mies van der Rohe

As director at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Mies designed a minimalist campus and iconic structures like the Lake Shore Drive Apartments. He was pivotal in developing the American glass skyscraper and embracing "less is more" aesthetics.

Lake Shore Drive Apartments

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Founded in 1936, SOM became known for its "glass box" skyscrapers, including the Lever House in New York and major projects in Chicago. The firm symbolized the corporate and institutional embrace of Modernism.

Lever House

Eero Saarinen

A Finnish-American architect and designer, Saarinen was known for his sculptural furniture designs (e.g., Tulip and Womb chairs) and modern architectural achievements like the Kleinhans Music Hall and Crow Island School. His collaborations with his father and firms like Perkins and Will influenced educational and civic architecture in the U.S.

Kleinhans Music Hall

Crow Island School

Conclusion

Modernism in America emerged as a powerful architectural and design movement shaped by global events, particularly the World Wars. Influential architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, and others brought new ideas that emphasized function, simplicity, and harmony with nature. Their innovative designs transformed both residential and commercial spaces, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence architecture and interior design today.

Modern Applications

One Step Further: Marcel Breuer

Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) was a Hungarian-born architect and furniture designer who became a major figure in modernist design, especially in the United States. He studied and later taught at the Bauhaus, a groundbreaking German design school emphasizing the unity of art, craft, and technology. At the Bauhaus, he gained early fame for creating innovative furniture using tubular steel, such as the iconic Wassily Chair.

Breuer emigrated to the United States in the 1930s as the Nazis closed the Bauhaus, and he was invited by Walter Gropius (his mentor and founder of the Bauhaus) to teach at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Together, they introduced European modernist ideas to a new generation of American architects.

In architecture, Breuer became known for his bold use of concrete and sculptural forms, helping to define Brutalism—a style characterized by raw, exposed materials and dramatic, fortress-like shapes. One of his significant contributions in the U.S. was his role in designing early modern buildings at Harvard and forming his own firm, where he created public buildings, schools, and private residences.

Breuer's work balanced functionality with artistic expression, making him a key figure in the transition of modernist architecture from Europe to America. His legacy includes not only his buildings but also the widespread influence of his teaching and design philosophy.