Neo Futurism : Neo Futurist Architecture

In O’Gorman’s piece ABC of Architecture Venustas is touched on but not analyzed to the extent of both Utilitas and Firmitas. Contrary to Vitruvius’ criteria, modern buildings are built using the Vitruvian factors of Utilitas and Firmitas. The architect does not usually have the freedom to design whatever they desire, they usually follow a set of criteria and constraints in the form of a plan.

I will first provide a description of the building and the architectural order of neoclassicism before moving on to consider why the architect used the classical style, the messages conveyed through that choice and

“Architecture should not be seen as representing a magical transition from the worldly to the heavenly, as had been implied by the Baroque Style, but rather as a medium that told nothing less than the story of the “origins” of mankind.” (Ching 610)

One of the world’s most famous architects and engineers was born in the Italian city state of Florence sometime in 1377. Although he had a huge influence on building design and construction, and on art, we don’t know a lot about Filippo Brunelleschi’s early life. Nonetheless, he left buildings and artwork that still exist today, and he had two biographers who provided information about his work, from these we can learn a lot about this Renaissance genius. His most important work, the ll Duomo di Firenze (the Dome of the Florence Cathedral), was finished in 1436 and remains as one of the greatest symbols of the period. Before he started building this revolutionary structure, Brunelleschi studied the architecture of Roman buildings and monuments.

Many architectural and urban forms and elements that we witness today are largely influenced by how buildings were design and laid in Rome. Not only in terms of its external design that brought upon important messages but the design of interiors and the significance of spatial arrangement of spaces exist within them has created the sense of physical experience in the buildings as well. Rome’s urban development and the rise of architectural movement began during the time of Augustus

In Corbusier’s architecture he sought to refine the buildings to a perfect standard in with the aim of benefiting society on whole. Corbusier firmly believed in the power of architecture to effect the lives of people, in his collection of essays on modern architecture titled Vers une architecture (Toward[s] an Architecture) Corbusier claims architecture to be “A product of happy peoples and a thing which in itself produces happy peoples.” Through his publication of L’Espirit Nouveau, and through his works as an architect and artist Corbusier implemented the orderly, rational and logical aesthetics that he believed would lead towards a better world for his adopted nation of France, and the world, addressing issues of the time such as housing.

As science was evolving, art and architecture were too forming new ideas and styles. Starting with Einstein, Newton, and Heisenberg- in regard to quantum physics and leaping into architectural advances, it is agreed that this was a revolutionary time for all who lived in this era. That being said, Cubism, Futurism, and Fauvism are important styles in modernistic art. Whether it is literature, poetry, song, or dance, these principles helped to shape the future and individual approach to create our own perspective. The abstract styles discussed, paved the way for Nonobjective art to make its mark on humanity and to make us feel and see uniquely. Not to mention, architecture and the International style that later developed, teaching us modern design. The international style gave us unique structures, distinctly showcasing new synthetic materials, floor plans, and roofs. As one can see, modernistic art provides just as an important part of our everyday life as

Antoni Gaudi was a Catalan architect from Spain who lived from 1852-1826 and was the master of Catalan Modernism. Most of Gaudi’s work was marked by his 3 passions of life; religion, nature and architecture. His works show various unique styles that he attained through researching natural forms and employing them in his buildings while studying every detail of his creations, assimilating into his design every innovative design solution. He was influenced by Neo-Gothic art and became a main part of the Modernisme movement, even though his works transcended the design of mainstream Modernisme. He used organic styles inspired by forms he found in nature and rarely drew plans, instead much preferring to use models and 3D moulding. His works

However, as the time passes, one can say that international architecture that totally lacks cultural symbols cannot always ensure what an ideal model of the city is striving at - creating the comfortable environment where people can live. The reminiscences of architectural post- modernism became the attempts to bring back the lost symbols into

In this essay, I will not only be discussing at the connections between Renaissance architecture and cosmology as well as music, but also the what Renaissance architecture is and how it played a key part in architectural design today. The Renaissance period took place during the early 15th century to early 17th century, the age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Architects of the time took inspiration from classical Roman architecture. This means it is an analysis of architecture in the ancient world, especially ancient Greece and Rome. What the Renaissance learnt from the Romans has how they used the space, looked at the form and had somewhat accurate measurements. And so, they copied elements and modified it, for example, many columns having a slightly intruded appearance on walls to give decoration to the building. They loved looking at the design and proportions and the mainly thrived in Italy during the early semester. It wasn’t until the latter years where Renaissance architecture started to spread throughout Europe, where many architects were fading from the gothic style previously used. However, large numbers of buildings incorporated a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic styles. A famous building built during the Renaissance period is St Peter’s Basilica, made in Rome, which was designed by many

The 20th century is the hall mark of new, airplanes, automobiles, electricity, the whole world was abuzz with the feelings of a new future, it was a modern world now and that required modern art. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti understood this and wrote the Futurist Manifesto, the

The futurists celebrated the new exciting world upon them, with a love for speed, machines, pollution, noises and cities. Futurism also glorified war, and the growth of fascism, which would have been controversial for the time. They rejected anything old and looked toward a newer and better Italy. Futurism has gone on to influence other artistic domains. The Italian futurist architects were constantly at odds with the fascist countries favour towards Roman imperial and classical aesthetic patterns. Therefore, as a result, many futurist buildings were built in the years 1920-1940, such as stations, maritime resorts, post offices. An example is Trento's railway station built by Angiolo

Architecture is often mistaken as purely an art form, when in actually it is where art and engineering or art and practicality meet. For example, painting is an art, when preformed well it yields a beautiful picture that evokes a deep human reaction and brings pleasure to its viewer, however this painting provides no function, it cannot shield us from the rain or protect us from the wind or snow, it is purely form. An insulated aluminum shed provides shelter and protection from Mother Nature; however, it is a purely functional building, it was drawn by an engineer, not conceived by an artist to have form. The culmination of form and function is Architecture, the Greeks and Romans fathered this idea and Palladio’s study of roman architecture taught him his valuable truth.

An esteemed figure within the progress of Mexico’s architecture, Luis Ramiro Barragán Morfín (March 9, 1902 – November 22, 1988), widely known as Luis Barragán, was a Mexican engineer and architect. With a career spanning over 30 built projects, predominantly based in Mexico, Barragán’s works influenced contemporary architects, designers, or artists, in terms of his distinctive design principles. His influential work upon Mexico’s modern architecture enabled him as an awardee of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1980 – an award that gave Barragán recognition and critical acclaim, one that he did not receive until near the end of his career. But even with the sudden phenomenon of his reputation due to his solitary and reserved personality, the evidence and quality of his work still remains – which truly begs the question: How did Luis Barragán’s architecture distinguish itself differently from other architects within his time period?

The futurist art movement and its characteristic manifestos had a significant impact on ‘modernist’ art movements since the 20th century. Aside from founder Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, who was a poet, many manifestos were written by painters or about visual art: Marinetti’s two founding manifestos were directly followed by three manifestos by Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, Giacomo Balla, Luigi Russolo, and Gino Severini, all of whom were painters.