What is or is not modern is formidably subjective; modernity is a complicated term to define. One's definition of modernity depends on varying factors, including time frame, function, form, and behavior. Some historians or architects attribute the beginning of "modernization" to the industrial revolution (the 1700s to 1800s). Others tie the earliest beginnings of modernization to the Project of Modernity and hence to the Enlightenment. Other historians and architectures see engineering developments and the advance of technology as key to the modernization of architecture. The big question is: "When did modern architecture actually begin?" There is no exact point of time or singular architecture that can be attributed to the rise of modern architecture, but the rationalization and standardization of the elements of modern architecture, which began in the early 20th century (1920s – 1930s), generally marks the beginning of modern architecture.
The rationale for the Start of Modernism
Modernist Architecture: Roots (the 1700s–1900s)
As stated earlier, what is or is not modern is formidably subjective. Therefore, since modernity is a complicated term to define, there is no exact point of time or singular architecture that can be attributed to the beginning of modernization in architecture. However, a number of ideas developed during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries show the rise of this movement (Tzonis, 2004). The architectural designs and structures constructed based on these ideas can be associated with advances in technology, the industrial revolution, and the development of new building materials.
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The Industrial Revolution (the 1700s–1800s)
In architecture, the industrial revolution was one of the key drivers of the "modernization" of architecture. The industrial revolution in Britain (1700s to 1800s) led to the construction of new types of building due to the availability of new building materials (ARTiculations, 2018). This can be attributed to many factors, including their superior construction and engineering capabilities. For example, engineers and architects found iron to be a very superior construction material to timber. This allowed architects to design more efficient structural elements, longer spans, better lateral stability, taller structures, and less fire-hazardous structures (ARTiculations, 2018). This intrinsically changed the structure of buildings, helping brand the modernist architectural aesthetic. However, despite using superior construction materials, the building still "looked" like traditional buildings.
"Modern" or "Classical" Architectures
“Modern” architectures started to rise in the mid-19th century. "The Crystal Palace," a cast iron and plate glass structure constructed in 1850, is considered the first example of "modern architecture." This was tall, laterally stable, and had open floor plans. Besides, according to ARTiculations, this building defied conventional structural expectations (ARTiculations, 2018). "The Crystal Palace" differed significantly from previously constructed buildings both physically and esthetically. Unlike prior buildings, which had a solid and sturdy base, with construction materials getting progressively lighter with the height of the building, this building was structurally, architecturally, and aesthetically superior (ARTiculations, 2018; Nia &Rahbarianyazd , 2020).
Following the designation of "The Crystal Palace" as "modern" architecture, architects started to emphasize this hierarchy of visual elements. They started to design buildings that not only defied conventional structural expectations but also the long-held aesthetic principals of western architecture. As a result, the world's first "skyscraper," "The Home Insurance Building," was built. This building was built in 1885 in Chicago (ARTiculations, 2018). To construct less fire-hazardous structures, architects started to use metal framings instead of timber framings. As such, "The Home Insurance Building" in Chicago was constructed entirely from a structural steel frame. This is because this construction material is far much superior to iron when it comes to strength. Besides, steel is much lighter than iron. This meant that architects could construct buildings that are much taller, with wider window openings.
The Rise of Modernization in Architecture
Modernism in architecture is traced to the profound rationalizations and standardizations of architecture in the early 20th century. In the early 1920s, many prominent architects emerged – "Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe" (Rowe, 2011, n.p; ARTiculations, 2018, n.p). During the 1920s and 1930s, these architects started to design buildings that are today widely regarded as modern architecture: sleek geometric boxes constructed primarily from glass and steel (ARTiculations, 2018). More specifically, the building during this time, just like today's buildings, were characterized by a simple design and usually constructed in glass for façade, steel for exterior support, and concrete for the interior and interior supports.
Although it originated in the 20th century, modernism did not achieve widespread acceptance until after WWII, when modernist planning was introduced as a response to architecture and design's previous inability to satisfy specific needs of the society. During this time, most urban populations (15%) were economically disadvantaged and loved in slums (Rowe, 2011). Modernist planning was a common concept that was used to address these issues.
A prime example of a modern building is the "Seagram" building, a skyscraper constructed in New York City in 1958. Although this building was built from revolutionary materials and technologies just like those constructed throughout the 1800s, the architectural elements were more revolutionized and standardized. In other words, modern architectural buildings diverted from classical aesthetics ( Nia &Rahbarianyazd , 2020). The architects, instead, followed a set of formal principals to design and construct the buildings. The elements of architecture employed in the early 20th century went on to influence generations of architects and designers. For this reason, it is widely believed that modern architecture began in the early 20th century.
The Bauhaus architectural school in Germany, established in 1919, was the most prominent school for modern architecture. The founders of Bauhaus and the concept of modern architecture itself did not transfer to the U.S. until the rise of the Nazis. At this moment, contemporary architecture is sprouting in two directions: international style and postmodern architecture (Amiri, 2016; Morgenthaler, 2016) .
Criticism of Modern Architecture
However, the theories proposed by Modernists have been heavily criticized and/or rejected. In particular, the criticisms of modern architecture bloomed in the mid-20th century. Architects and the masses criticized and/or rejected the formalism of modernism on the basis that modern architecture is "universal, sterile, elitist, and lacked meaning." As a result, postmodernity is responding to the formalization of modernism architectural style by manifesting itself as an architectural design with diverse aesthetics, styles, and form (Amiri, 2016; ( Nia &Rahbarianyazd , 2020)). A prime example is the "Sony Building," which is a postmodern architecture with modernist architecture characteristics. Unlike modernist architecture, which is rooted in revolutionary materials and technologies, post-modernism seeks exuberance when it comes to the utilization of building techniques, angles, and references.
Conclusion
To sum up, historians and architects attribute the beginning of modernization to different times. Some attributed it to the industrial revolution. Others attribute modernism to the Enlightenment or the technological advancements and engineering developments. Simply put, there is no clear beginning or singular architecture that can be attributed to the rise of modern architecture. This paper sought to explore when modern architecture actually began. Although modern architecture had its roots in the 18th century, it actually began in the early 20th century with the rise of prominent modern architectural figures and profound rationalizations and standardizations of architecture. In the early 20th century, architects started to construct sleek geometric boxes, which were purely constructed from glass and steel. The building in the 20th century was characterized by a simple design. It was usually constructed in glass for façade, steel for exterior support, and concrete for the interior and interior supports.
References
Amiri, N. (2016). Modernism and post-modernism in architecture, an emphasis on the characteristics, similarities and differences. The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication , 6 , 1626-1634.
ARTiculations. (2018). When did modern architecture actually begin? [Video File]. [Online]. Retrieved May 2, 2021, from ARTiculations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym2CGp69oBQ
Morgenthaler, H. R. (2016). The Meaning of Modern Architecture: Its Inner Necessity and an Empathetic Reading . Routledge.
Nia, H. A., & Rahbarianyazd, R. (2020). Aesthetics of Modern Architecture: A Semiological Survey on the Aesthetic Contribution of Modern Architecture. Civil Engineering and Architecture 8 (2): 66 , 76 .
Rowe, H. A. (2011). The rise and fall of modernist architecture. Inquiries Journal , 3 (04).
Tzonis, A. (2004). The emergence of modern architecture: a documentary history from 1000 to 1810 . Psychology Press.
