What Is Modern Architecture? Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (2024)

The dawn of modern architecture came at a time when hand-labored craftsmanship was being replaced with machine-made industrialization. Modern architects worked to reinvent ways of building that focused more on how humans lived versus what they found beautiful. This popular architecture style is not sentimental, like revivalist styles. Instead, it is innovative, experimental, and minimal.

The basic principles of modern architecture include form following function, clean lines, and a lack of ornamentation. Modern architecture allowed a building's primary purpose to drive its design, eschewing decor for decor's sake, and, instead, reducing a building to its most basic function. Because of its emphasis on practicality, modern buildings are designed with a human's experience at their core, which includes an abundance of natural light and open floor plans.

Learn more about the dawn of modern architecture, how to recognize it, and its most identifiable characteristics.

What Is Modern Architecture?

Modern architecture is a style of building that emphasizes function and a streamlined form over ornamentation. This design aesthetic began in the 1930s as a departure from more elaborate and decorated homes like Queen Anne, Victorian, or Gothic Revival styles. Modern architecture, which was most often seen through the 1970s, usually involves sharp, clean lines.

History of Modern Architecture

The modern movement was not short-lived, and it encompasses several sub-styles that span nearly 60 years. In this way, it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact starting point. To some, the style includes more transitional architecture like the Art Deco and Arts and Crafts movements. To others, those earlier styles served as inspiration for more "pure," mid-century modern architects.

The birth of modern design came with the thought that form should follow function. This idea started with architect Louis Sullivan who designed buildings for the 1893 Chicago World Fair. That mantra became the foundation for modern architects.

Other popular pioneers of modern architecture include Frank Lloyd Wright, Staatliches Bauhaus, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier.

The modern design aesthetic was in full swing in the 1930s and became known as International Modernism or International Style. This design aesthetic came after an architecture exhibit by Philip Johnson in 1932.

In general, the most well-known examples of modern architecture end around the mid 20th century, but the design style still influences buildings well into the late 20th century.

Characteristics of Modern Architecture

Since there are so many styles of modern architecture, there are several defining characteristics. These are some of the more common, broad key features that can be seen across many different forms.

• Clean, minimal lines. These lines lack additional ornamentation and are generally a consistent, smooth texture.
• Broad roof overhangs. Several modern homes emphasize low, horizontal structures with large roof overhangs.
• Walls of glass and large windows. You will find a very generous use of glass, which allows a significant amount of natural light into the interior.
• Open and well-defined floorplans. Since modern architecture focuses on form over function, architects sought to include large, spacious floorplans with dining and living spaces that flowed into one another.
• Modern and traditional building materials. Some common materials in modern homes include steel, concrete block, iron, and glass. More conventional building materials like wood, brick, and stone were used in more straightforward ways to show off their natural beauty.
• A relationship to the outside environment. A lot of thought went into building sites and how buildings would relate to the natural landscape surrounding them.
• Asymmetrical designs. Modern architects played around with large, smooth shapes and asymmetrical compositions that were cleanly planed and lacked any additional decoration.

Types of Modern Architecture

There are several styles of modern architecture in the United States alone. From 1930 through 1970, there are categories like Expressionist, Constructivist, and Mid-Century Modern, to name a few. Here are a few of the most popular types of modern architecture.

Early Modern Architecture

Modern architecture's earliest examples included buildings that showed off their structural forms and the materials used in building, whether that was metal framing, steel, or concrete. There was a focus on finding the beauty in the technicalities of the architecture.

Mid-century Modern

By the mid- to late-1940s, modern architecture evolved towards a look that felt more human. Mid-century modern architecture was still minimal and functional, but it introduced materials that felt warm and organic, including wood, large swaths of glass to let natural light in and open floor plans.

Post-modern

A backlash to the minimalist, sleek styling of modern architecture began in the 1970s, post-modern architecture echoed the pre-modern architecture styles which felt colorful, vibrant, ornate, and decorative. Ornamentation was re-introduced, and its eclectic lines continue today.

Examples of Modern Architecture

There are stunning examples of modern architecture still standing in pristine condition across the country, and many are open to the general public for tours. Here are a few examples of modern architecture you can study or see for yourself.

• Eames House by Charles and Ray Eames
• Glass House by Philip Johnson
• Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright
• Farnsworth House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
  

Interesting Facts

The most common theme is the elimination of ornaments.

Earlier styles of modern architecture still had some use of ornamentation. For instance, Frank Lloyd Wright would incorporate art glass windows so that no additional artwork was needed. Beyond that, modern architecture is mostly analytical and not showy.

Modern architecture is different than contemporary architecture.

To some people, modern and contemporary architecture are the same thing. However, modern architecture was inspired by an art movement known as modernism and lasted until around 1960. Contemporary architecture incorporates architecture past the 1960s and leading up to today. In short, contemporary architecture is reflective of styles in this current moment, which happen to be very diverse.

Eventually, modern homes seemed too cold for everyday living.

Modern homes were revolutionary in that they embraced the concept of free-flowing space. The ideology also rejected clutter and excess belongings. However, as the design period went on, many architects challenged this strict notion of space and lack of stuff as cold and impersonal. This evolution brought on more contemporary designs that worked to incorporate ornamentation and color. In contemporary homes, you can have an open concept floor plan but also have an element of privacy.

In summary, modern architecture began in the early 1900s and ended around the 1960s when more contemporary designs took over. Eventually, modern principles became too cold for everyday living due to an excess of space and the stark nature of the building materials.