🏙️Modern Architecture Unit 5 – Futurism & Expressionism: Avant-Garde Art

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Futurism an avant-garde artistic and social movement originating in Italy in the early 20th century emphasized speed, technology, youth, violence, and objects such as the car, the airplane, and the industrial city
• Expressionism a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas
  • Sought to express the meaning of emotional experience rather than physical reality
• Avant-garde refers to people or works that are experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society pushes the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo
• Dynamism the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress, commonly associated with Futurist art and architecture
• Abstraction the process of removing or reducing elements from a design or artwork to create a simplified, non-representational form
• Monumentality in architecture, refers to the quality of being large, massive, and imposing, often conveying a sense of grandeur or importance
• Utopian ideals imagined or proposed states of perfection, often used to describe the aspirational goals of avant-garde movements like Futurism and Expressionism

Historical Context and Origins

• Futurism emerged in the early 20th century, with the publication of the Futurist Manifesto by Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909
  • Manifesto glorified speed, technology, youth, and violence, and expressed a deep disdain for the past and traditional art forms
• Expressionism developed in Northern Europe in the early 1900s as a response to the increasingly mechanized and urbanized world
  • Artists sought to convey emotional experiences and subjective perspectives through distorted and exaggerated forms
• Both movements were influenced by the rapid industrialization and technological advancements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Embraced the machine age and the potential for progress and change
• Futurism and Expressionism were part of a broader trend of avant-garde movements that challenged traditional artistic conventions and sought to create new forms of expression
• The devastation of World War I had a significant impact on both movements, leading to a more pessimistic and introspective approach in Expressionism, while Futurism became more closely associated with Italian Fascism in the 1920s and 1930s

Influential Artists and Architects

• Antonio Sant'Elia (1888-1916) Italian architect and a key figure in Futurist architecture known for his visionary designs of highly mechanized cities and buildings (La Città Nuova)
• Erich Mendelsohn (1887-1953) German architect and a prominent figure in Expressionist architecture his designs featured dynamic, curving forms and innovative use of materials (Einstein Tower)
• Bruno Taut (1880-1938) German architect and urban planner associated with Expressionism known for his utopian visions and use of colorful, crystalline forms (Glass Pavilion)
• Hans Poelzig (1869-1936) German architect and designer, a leading figure in Expressionist architecture his works often featured organic, sculptural forms and expressive use of materials (Großes Schauspielhaus)
• Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) Austrian philosopher, architect, and esotericist developed the concept of Anthroposophy, which influenced his organic, spiritually-informed architectural designs (Goetheanum)
• Wenzel Hablik (1881-1934) Czech-born German artist, designer, and architect known for his Expressionist and utopian architectural visions, featuring crystalline and dynamic forms
• Hermann Finsterlin (1887-1973) German artist and architect associated with Expressionism his visionary designs featured organic, biomorphic forms and expressive use of color

Characteristics of Futurist Architecture

• Emphasis on speed, dynamism, and motion reflected in the use of angular, asymmetrical, and streamlined forms
• Glorification of technology and the machine aesthetic, often incorporating industrial materials like steel, glass, and concrete
• Rejection of historical styles and ornamentation in favor of a new, modern language of form
  • Stripped-down, functional designs that prioritized the expression of structure and materials
• Visionary and utopian approach, with designs often depicting highly mechanized, futuristic cities and buildings
  • Emphasis on transportation infrastructure, such as elevated walkways and monorails
• Use of strong vertical lines and repetitive geometric shapes to create a sense of rhythm and movement
• Integration of sculpture and other artistic elements into architectural designs, blurring the boundaries between art and architecture
• Futurist architects often presented their ideas through bold, expressive drawings and manifestos, rather than built projects

Expressionist Architectural Features

• Emphasis on emotional expression and subjective experience, conveyed through distorted, exaggerated, and dynamic forms
• Use of organic, biomorphic shapes and curved lines, often inspired by natural forms like caves, crystals, and mountains
• Innovative use of materials, particularly glass, brick, and concrete, to create sculptural and textured surfaces
  • Exploration of the expressive potential of materials, such as the transparency and luminosity of glass
• Incorporation of symbolic and spiritual elements, reflecting the influence of movements like Anthroposophy and the Bauhaus
• Theatrical and immersive qualities, with architecture conceived as a total work of art that engages all the senses
  • Use of dramatic lighting, color, and spatial effects to create atmospheric and emotive spaces
• Utopian and visionary approach, with designs often depicting idealized, communal spaces and alternative ways of living
• Integration of multiple art forms, such as painting, sculpture, and stained glass, into architectural designs
• Expressionist architects often worked across scales, from small-scale interiors and set designs to large-scale urban planning projects

Notable Buildings and Projects

• La Città Nuova (The New City) a series of visionary drawings by Antonio Sant'Elia depicting a highly mechanized, futuristic city with towering skyscrapers, elevated walkways, and transportation networks (1914)
• Großes Schauspielhaus (Great Theater) in Berlin, designed by Hans Poelzig, featuring a cavernous, sculptural interior with stalactite-like ceiling formations (1919)
• Einstein Tower in Potsdam, designed by Erich Mendelsohn, an Expressionist observatory with a dynamic, curving form that reflects the building's function (1921)
• Glass Pavilion at the Cologne Werkbund Exhibition, designed by Bruno Taut, a crystalline structure that showcased the expressive potential of glass as a building material (1914)
• Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, designed by Rudolf Steiner, an organic, sculptural building that serves as the center for the Anthroposophical movement (1928)
• Chilehaus in Hamburg, designed by Fritz Höger, an Expressionist office building with a dramatic, curving brick facade that reflects the building's maritime context (1924)
• Mossehaus in Berlin, designed by Erich Mendelsohn, an Expressionist office building with a dynamic, streamlined facade that showcases the architect's innovative use of materials (1923)

Impact on Modern Design

• Futurism and Expressionism challenged traditional notions of architecture and paved the way for later modernist movements like Constructivism, De Stijl, and the Bauhaus
  • Emphasis on abstraction, functionalism, and the expression of modern materials and technologies
• The visionary and utopian aspects of both movements influenced the development of modern urban planning and the concept of the "ideal city"
• Expressionist architecture's focus on emotional expression and subjective experience had a lasting impact on the development of organic and sculptural forms in modern architecture
  • Influenced later architects like Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and Santiago Calatrava
• Futurist architecture's celebration of speed, technology, and the machine aesthetic influenced the development of Streamline Moderne and the International Style in the 1930s and 1940s
• The integration of multiple art forms and the concept of the "total work of art" in Expressionist architecture influenced the development of interdisciplinary design practices and the blurring of boundaries between art and architecture
• The experimental and innovative use of materials in both movements, particularly the exploration of glass and concrete, had a significant impact on the development of modern architectural materials and construction techniques

Legacy and Contemporary Influence

• Futurism and Expressionism continue to inspire contemporary architects and designers with their visionary and experimental approaches to form, space, and materiality
• The expressive and sculptural qualities of Expressionist architecture can be seen in the works of contemporary architects like Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and Santiago Calatrava
  • Use of organic, curving forms and innovative materials to create dynamic and emotive spaces
• The Futurist emphasis on technology, speed, and the machine aesthetic resonates with contemporary architecture's focus on sustainability, performance, and digital fabrication
  • Exploration of new materials, construction techniques, and design tools to create efficient and responsive buildings
• The utopian and socially-engaged aspects of both movements continue to inspire contemporary architects and urban planners in their efforts to create more equitable, sustainable, and livable cities
• The interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of Futurism and Expressionism, with architects working closely with artists, designers, and other creatives, prefigures contemporary trends in cross-disciplinary design practice
• The legacy of Futurism and Expressionism is evident in the ongoing exploration of the relationship between art, architecture, and technology, and the continued push to challenge conventional boundaries and create new forms of expression in the built environment
• Contemporary architects and designers continue to draw inspiration from the bold, expressive, and visionary works of the Futurist and Expressionist movements, adapting their ideas and approaches to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century