Modernism And Corbusier’S Innovation In Design

Modernism is seen to solve social issues that arose post war, and ultimately “be a democratic answer to the social crisis”. The vision of modernism was one of a utopian vision/one associated with ideal visions of living and life for everyone. Parallel to this utopian vision was the production of new modern materials; steel, glass and concrete – these radically changed the design of structures from something very decorated to a simplified clean form and design. The new innovations within structural building materials altered the way buildings could take form. Reinforced concrete “opened up a world of expressive form whose analogies lay not in previous architecture”, including creating organic forms and structures, and large buildings made entirely out of reinforced concrete. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier was a pioneer in modernist design, radically challenging the pre-conceptions of urban planning and architecture. He believed in designing architecture which should be an answer to the social issues facing people post war. The introduction of these new and improved structural materials changed the way in which the architecture of buildings was able to be constructed.

Steel was used as a frame for building including high rises as it “would dispense with mass”. The steel was designed in a grid with unsupported tall columns linked by horizontal girders. These columns would carry the load of the building meaning light weight panels and glass could be used in larger proportions. Reinforced concrete was another material of the future utopia- adding steel into the concrete makes it stronger and also allows it to be moulded into any shape. This bought on endless possibilities to building and form. Glass was a celebrated utopian material, no longer being used for decorative purposes but now being used in the construction. Light became a key element to modernist design, utilising glass on exterior walls introduced light filtration and a connection to the outside. A new way of viewing architecture and design, being a connection between the interior and exterior, with a thought to designing functional and purposeful architecture. The use of these structural materials blurred the exterior and interior- only a thin sheet of glass separating these two spaces.

Modernist design was constructed with straight lines, proportion and few materials which complimented the ideals of a simplified and uncomplicated clean form and design. The interior of these modern utopias were open and refined, defined by silent spaces, changing how an interior was viewed. Long running traditions were intendedly broken alongside the rebellion against religious, social and political views during this period, coinciding with ideas for a fairer society and ideal visions of living. Originally modernist design was criticised for a lack of aesthetic purpose – due to the stark change from an overly decorated interior to something minimal following the idea that “form follows function”.

Concrete has been used for centuries before the 20th century. Concrete became so successful during the modernist period as it answered the post war need for housing to be built quickly and on mass, and also being a cost effective material. It also calls to the simple and clean design following “form follows function”. Le Corbusier was a successful urban planner and architect in the 20th century, highly respected for his contribution to modernist design. He had a grand visions for utopia, "possessed by an idea” to reimagine parts of Europe. This highly gifted architect and planner created these ambitious utopian cities tragically many of his works were never built including his design for La Ville Radieuse, “the Radiant City” (1920’s). To be built on the ground of demolished European cities this new utopian city would be made up of prefabricated high - rises with vast green spaces. Corbusier believed in zoning the city into districts of residential, commercial, entertainment and business areas. Corbusier famously believed in his architecture should be “a machine for living in”- the Radiant City answered that belief as each district would be organised parts that together function as one. “Work in our modern world becomes more intensified day by day, and its demands affect our nervous system in a way that grows more and more dangerous. Modern toil demands quiet and fresh air, not stale air. The towns of to-day can only increase in density at the expense of the open spaces which are the lungs of a city. We must increase the open spaces and diminish the distances to be covered. Therefore the centre of the city must be constructed vertically. The city’s residential quarters must no longer be built along “corridor-streets, ” full of noise and dust and deprived of light. It is a simple matter to build urban dwellings away from the streets”.

To many this sounded like a version of utopia but one who disagreed with this vision was art critic Robert Hughes who describes “the misery and social dislocation the Radiant City would have inflicted on it inhabitants, had it ever been built. ” Hughes’ critical analysis of Corbusier harshly depicts a dystopia. Hughes also calls out architecture and urban planning during this time as being “paper architecture, ” hypothetical designs which never left the paper they were originally drawn on, the Radiant City was one of these. One of Corbusier’s seemly successful projects was Unité d’Habitation, (1946-1952) representing more than 20 years of research and practise. The idea behind this housing unit was to minimise personal living space and maximise the communal living space. He envisioned the creation of community in many of his designs including Unité d’Habitation which shared communal spaces freeing up space for more Unité apartments with laundries, a kindergarten, a running track and a gym shared on the landscaped roof terrace. The exterior follows the guidelines of modernist design- a reinforced concrete block with straight planes, and open plan living. Standing on concrete posts this building sits in the landscape like a sculptural work of modern art. The textured concrete skin wraps around the building with cubist inspired colours and forms seen on each balcony.

Corbusier’s innovation in design changed the expectations for high density residential housing. Corbusier wanted to strive towards a “White World”- the domain of clarity and precision, of exact proportion and precise materials, culture standing alone- on contrast to the “Brown World” of muddle, clutter and compromise, the architecture of inattentive experience. ” These aline with modernist design - a simple and clear space, precisely designed with few materials, contrasting the ornamented decoration that previously suffocated architecture. Modernism was a radical approach to society and architecture, designing large residential housing post war, where in some cases cities were wiped out. The urban planning schemes designed challenged many pre - conceptions to what a housing should be and do, with innovations in building materials altering how a building could take form, and creating an opening sense of space, away from the decorated architecture previously seen. Many architects including Corbusier were seen as pioneers in modernist design and can be described as the architects who “to be able to order space was to be able to order society…. It is the architect who becomes the shaper of society. ” Open plan living, green spaces and innovation in materiality and form are many of the ideas that came out of this period and today are still considered in architecture and urban town planning.