Enter your search terms Submit search form

Functionalism in architecture

Functionalism in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern architecture.

The place of functionalism in building can be traced back to the Vitruvian triad, where 'utilitas' (variously translated as 'commodity', 'convenience', or 'utility') stands alongside 'venustas' (beauty) and 'firmitas' (firmness) as one of three classic goals of architecture.

 In the early years of the 20th Century, Chicago architect Louis Sullivan popularized the phrase 'form ever follows function' to capture his belief that a building's size, massing, spatial grammar and other characteristics should be driven solely by the function of the building. The implication is that if the functional aspects are satisfied, architectural beauty would naturally and necessarily follow.

Business and Economics   cabinet    central america    certifications    characteristics and classification    characteristics of gothic architecture

Sullivan's credo is deeply ironic, considering the non-functional nature of the intricate ornament he is known for. The credo also does not address whose function he means. The architect of an apartment building, for instance, can easily be at cross-purposes with the owners of the building regarding how the building should look and feel, and they could both be at cross-purposes with the future tenants. Nevertheless 'form follows function' expresses a significant and enduring idea.

The roots of modern architecture

The roots of modern architecture lie in the work of the Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier and the German architect Mies van der Rohe. Both were functionalists at least to the extent that their buildings were radical simplifications of previous styles. In 1923 Mies van der Rohe was working in Weimar Germany, and had begun his career of producing radically simplified, lovingly detailed structures that achieved Sullivan's goal of inherent architectural beauty. Corbusier famously said "a house is a machine for living in"; his 1923 book Vers une architecture was, and still is, very influential, and his early built work such as the Villa Savoye in Poissy, France is thought of as prototypically functional.

chibchas    classification of indigenous peoples of the americas    Demographics of the State of Gujarat   communication studies    computers    correction methods

In the mid 1930s functionalism began to discussed as an aesthetic approach rather than a matter of design integrity. The idea of functionalism was conflated with lack of ornamentation, which is a different matter. It became a pejorative term associated with the most bald and brutal ways to cover space, like cheap commercial buildings and sheds, then finally used, for example in academic criticism of Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, simply as a synonym for 'gauche'.

 For 70 years the preeminent and influential American architect Philip Johnson held that the profession has no functional responsibility whatsoever, and this is the prevailing view today. The most well-known architects in the west, like Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Richard Meier and I.M. Pei, see themselves as artists with no responsibility to clients or users. Their buildings are works of art and not subject to practical criticism. The position of postmodern architect Peter Eisenman is based on a user-hostile theoretical basis and even more extreme: "I don't do function." The debate about functionalism and aesthetics is often framed by them as a mutually exclusive choice, when in fact there are architects, like Will Bruder, James Polshek and Ken Yeang, who attempt to satisfy all three Vitruvian goals.

lansend.com: Microsoft Certified Computer consultants in New York, NY
Microsoft Certified Computer consultants providing computer and network consulting services in New York ,NY Manhattan Queens, Lan Wan  Networking VPN.
http://www.lansend.com
 
NotasInc.com
Colombian crafts, handmade handicraft, unique gifts
Unique gifts & handmade handicrafts handcrafted by Colombian artisans. Stained glass paintings, embossed ceramic paintings, jute handicrafts, leather sculptures, hand embroidered cloth & tapestry
http://www.notasinc.com/index.htm

Quiktea
Authentic Indian Tea, Very tastea , Very Indian- Instant Chai
QuikFoods currently has QuikTea - an Instant Chai, QuikCafe - Instant Coffee & Chicory Blend with Milk, and Diets. We've also put our top flavors in single serving foil and are available in 3 pouch box, 20 pouch box, and 1KG foil bags - Great for vending services
http://www.quiktea.com/index.cfm imperial topaz gemstones