an architecture par lent revolution to revolution revivals around the world
east meets west a widening debate : hand-craft or machine?
the second city looking backward or forward?
“THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK, RESPECTING ALL ORNAMENT, IS SIMPLY THIS: WAS IT DONE WITH ENJOYMENT”
-john Ruskin, seven lamps of architecture, 1851-
In the reflections unit we looked at the general ways architecture and art progressed and changed from the French revolution up around the early 20th century. Many innovations came about throughout this unit, from new ways to play with material onto new materials all together. In Europe we saw designers playing with the new idea of outdoor space as seen in Place de Vosges. Also in this era we saw designers play with the difference between private and public space. As seen in many European palaces large open spaces and gardens became popular. Moving across the Atlantic we go into the Colonial United States and see American designers taking influence from Europe while still trying to create their own style. The North and South had slightly different variations on their architectural views but both played up the geometric aspects of buildings. The ironic part of this period in America is that even though they were still trying to branch from England they still borrowed from the country’s building styles. The industrial revolution then came about bringing in the aspect of new ways to manipulate materials as well as seeing new materials being used such as iron and steel. In this America then does their best to do things their own way. This leads to the Greek revival; England followed Rome. This is evident in building such as Monticello, The White House, and The Capital Building. Toward the mid 1800s we saw lots of change. Glass and iron became the hot new materials to use and many exhibitions were held around the world, which helped push the design world forward. Movements such as the gothic revival and the eastern world coming westward also came about during this time. With all this change coming about we see a problem; What is best? Form vs. Reform. Hand crafting was clearly more personal and unique, but with innovation we could create things that LOOKED hand crafted in mass quantities. Many revivals came about but we still added our own style into it. We then saw individual cities emerge as front runners in the design world. Places such as Chicago and New York were the cities of dreams and thusly were centers for the new innovation movements such as skyscrapers. In this time individuals such as Frank Lloyd Wright also came forth as near instant famous designers, bringing forth new ideas and building types that would change the world for years to come, and pave the way for all new views.
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