Theories of Architecture Lecture-11- Architecture after World War I ART DECO & Rationalism Prepared by Tara Azad Rauof 1 This lecture Context: The Origin of ART DECO Key Ideas Characteristics of ART DECO Famous Art Deco Building Rationalism Rationalism in Architecture Pioneer of Rationalism in Europe 2 ART DECO [The Origin]: Art Deco, sometimes referred to as Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. Art Deco influenced the design of buildings, furniture, jewelry, fashion, cars, movie theatres, trains, ocean liners, and everyday objects such as radios and vacuum cleaners. Art Deco practitioners were often influenced by such as Cubism, De Stijl, and Futurism. Art Deco was a pastiche of many different styles, sometimes contradictory, united by a desire to be modern. From its outset, Art Deco was influenced by the bold geometric forms of Cubism and the bright colors of de Stijl. The Art Deco style originated in Paris, but has influenced architecture and culture as a whole. Art Deco works are symmetrical, geometric, streamlined, often simple, and pleasing to the eye. This style is in contrast to avant-garde art of the period Key Ideas: * Art Deco, similar to Art Nouveau, is a modern art style that attempts to infuse functional objects with artistic touches. This movement is different from the fine arts (painting and sculpture) where the art object has no practical purpose or use beyond providing interesting viewing. * With the large-scale manufacturing, artists and designers wished to enhance the appearance of mass-produced functional objects - everything from clocks to cars and buildings. * The Art Deco extends from the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts styles, which emphasized the uniqueness and originality of handmade objects and organic forms. * The American version of the Art Deco style was a trimmed version of the more elaborate and often bespoke European Art Deco style. 3 Characteristics of ART Deco: * When Art Nouveau fell out of fashion in the 1920s and 1930s, it was replaced by the clean, simple geometries of Art Deco. * The extravagant curves of Art Nouveau were seen as old-fashioned. * This movement was a combination of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Constructionism, Cubism, Modernism, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, and Futurism. Famous Art Deco Building: 1- The Chrysler Building in New York City, by William Van Alen (1928–1930) 4 2- The American Radiator Building in New York City by Raymond Hood (1924) Rationalism: Many historians claimed, neo-Rationalism was an evolution of 18th century Enlightenment Architecture. Modernism was the dominant rationalist movement of the 1900s. It basically aimed to employ new materials suited to the spirit of industrialization and free architects from the bondage of styles, which limit individual touches. The works of early Modernists Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius in Germany and Frenchman Le Corbusier were mostly products of socio-political revolutions. Following World War I, the German Modernist ventured into new structures that meet social needs. The Bauhaus design school resulted from this venture. 5 Rationalism in Architecture: * Rationalism means the practice or principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response. * New concepts of space, reflected the changed of functional requirements. * New constructional materials. * New construction methods which were suitable with massive energies of those materials. * Confirmed on the functions of building. * Architectural works of 19th century rationalists didn't leave a direct trace on the evolution of architecture. * Focusing on the structure, old and new constructional materials, without any covering. *The decorative elements disappear in favour of the straight & nude form. * The façades are no longer a support element but reduced to light skin for closing with huge number of windows and opening to allow ultimate entrance of air and lighting. Conclusions 1- Rationalists were generally non-ornamental and useful in structure, design and theme. 2- they used geometrical shapes, and projecting cultural and individual sentiments. 3- 18th century Rationalists were unified in advocating truth and beauty in architecture while neo-Rationalists had individual contradictions. 4- Nevertheless, both strands justified Architecture's major roles in society and in people's lives. 6 Pioneer of Rationalism in Europe: 1- Mies Van Der Rohe 2- Walter Gropius 3- Le Corbusier 7 8 .