Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences

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Architectural Movement: Minimalism

Minimalism refers to an architectural movement that started in the middle of the twentieth century. It arose as a response to the previous era’s complex ornate designs. The movement sought to reduce and simplify architecture to its most critical elements. Thus, artists in the era used clean lines and simple forms and focused on function instead of ornamentation. Reducing unnecessary elements created a sense of visual purity and enhanced a structure’s functional qualities. Furthermore, minimalism was influenced by the economic and social conditions of the era. Society had become more industrialized, increasing the need for functional and efficient architecture. This need inspired minimalist design, as architects strove to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and practical (Pan, 2019; Mehta et al., 2019). Today, minimalism in architecture is influenced by popular ideas of efficiency, functionality, and simplicity.

Political, Social, and Economic Context Of Minimalism

Minimalism’s emergence was inspired by the economic, social, and political changes that were happening after the end of World War II. The world was recovering from war devastation, and the need for affordable, practical housing had increased. Additionally, urbanization was accelerating and the population was increasing, creating the need for space-efficient and functional buildings. Furthermore, the 1950s and 1960s economic boom fueled people’s desire for minimalist designs. The economic boom also enabled architects to experiment with new construction methods and designs. Finally, the time’s social context influenced minimalist designs as the post-war generation wanted a break from the excessive and ornate past designs, and minimalism provided a refreshing and simple alternative (Norm Architects, 2022). Overall, the minimalist aesthetic reflected the new modernist age that expressed the desire for efficiency and simplicity.

Key Influences on Minimalism

Every art movement is influenced by different factors, and minimalist architecture is no exception. The modernist movement was one key influence that sought to develop a new style inspired by the modern age. Architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier were major modernism proponents as their work significantly impacted minimalist architecture. Thus, they emphasized the significance of simplicity, functionality, and clean lines. The Japanese “Ma” concept is also a primary influence on minimalism since it focuses on simplicity and negative space, which is critical in developing minimalist architecture. The rise of fresh materials such as glass and steel and industrial design significantly influenced minimalist architecture. The materials enabled architects to create delicate and light structures, reflecting the modern age’s industrial nature (Colomina, 2019; Norm Architects, 2022). Furthermore, the materials were easy to maintain, durable, and practical, making them effective for the time’s minimalist and functional designs.

Key Players In Minimalism

Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando, and John Pawson are significant players in the movement due to their ability to create elegant, functional, and simple buildings. John Pawson’s work focuses on functionality and simplicity, often by utilizing natural materials such as stone and wood. On the other hand, Tadao Ando’s designs incorporate light and concrete to create spaces that are harmonious with the natural environment. In contrast, Peter Zumthor’s utilization of natural materials, especially stone, develops minimalist designs that engage all artistic senses (Norm Architects, 2022). These architects are famous for their capability to create beautiful and functional buildings, with simple spaces that are harmonious with their surroundings.

Architect Profile: Philip Johnson

The selected artist, Philip Johnson, was an influential American architect during the 20^th century. He is known for his significant impacts on the modernist movement as well as his innovative steel and glass designs. Born in Cleveland, Johnson attended Harvard University and Paris’ École des Beaux-Arts, where his deep appreciation for modernism principles began. In addition to his architectural work, Johnson was a critic and curator, influencing modernist architecture development in the U.S. Johnson’s influence on architecture extended beyond his designs since he shaped the discourse around modernism and promoted other architects’ works (Volner, 2020). He played a pivotal role in postmodernism development, and his effect is still manifested in contemporary architects’ works today.

Biography of Philip Johnson

Johnson’s architectural career started in the 1930s when he collaborated with Mies van der Rohe to design New York’s Seagram building. The building is considered an iconic depiction of modernist architecture. It was Mies’ first attempt in tall building construction and he created a masterpiece with ample outdoor seating. He went on to design various significant structures, including Connecticut’s Glass House. The building is regarded as one of his most vital works. The Glass House provides an example of how Johnson was fascinated by materials of glass and steel as well as his interest in the transparency concept in architecture (Volner, 2020). His ideology was controversial due to his desire to embrace various approaches and styles, such as postmodernism.

Glass House Design

The Glass House was designed by Johnson and represents a striking example of modernist architecture. The house is a rectangular and simple structure made entirely of steel and glass without interior walls, creating a sense of transparency and openness. The design was influenced by Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe and featured similar use of steel and glass. The house highlighted the relationship between nature and man (Tobolczyk, 2021). The house is located in New Canaan Connecticut and includes other structures, making it a modernist architectural landmark.

Interior of Glass House

The interior of the Glass House reflects Johnson’s philosophy of functionality, minimalism, and simplicity. The main living space contains sensibly chosen furniture designed to maximize the landscape views. In particular, the fireplace acts as a visual divider between the bedroom and living area. A closet wall separates the bathroom from the living space, while the kitchen is in another nearby structure. The building uses floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and glass walls to improve the sense of openness, which blurs the distinction between the outside and inside (Tobolczyk, 2021). Thus, the Glass House’s interior is a timeless example of a minimalist approach that creates aesthetically pleasing and highly functional living spaces.

The Exterior of Glass House

The Glass House’s exterior design is characterized by the simple and minimalistic rectangular form that emphasizes the connection between the outside and inside spaces. Using steel and glass as the primary materials creates lightness and transparency and blends with the landscape. The building lacks decorative elements; ornamentation contributes to timeless elegance and simplicity. The highly functional design allowed the construction of an ample open space without interior walls, ensuring a seamless transition between the outside and inside spaces. Glass as the primary material enables natural lights in the house, which makes it spacious and airy and provides unobstructed surrounding landscape views (Tobolczyk, 2021). Overall, the exterior design’s aesthetics and functionality converge to create a balanced and harmonious architectural masterpiece.

Critical Analysis of The Glass House

The key strengths of the Glass House are its innovative and unique design and its robust connection between exterior and interior spaces. However, its impracticality, lack of privacy, and unsuitability for specific environments and climates depict some of its weaknesses. Regardless of the limitations, the Glass House has significantly impacted the architectural world since it is an iconic example of modernist architecture, influencing multiple designers. As a result, the design continues to be appreciated and studied by architectural enthusiasts. The image in the slide helps to visualize the points presented in the critical analysis.

References

Colomina, B. (2019). X-ray architecture. Lars Müller Publishers.

Mehta, N., Dave, R., & Barche, S. (2019). Minimalism in architecture. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 2, 652-653. Web.

Norm Architects. (Ed.). (2022). Soft minimal: A sensory approach to architecture and design. Gestalten.

Pan, V. J. (2019). Architecture of the periphery in Chinese: Cartography and minimalism. Routledge.

Tobolczyk, M. (2021). Contemporary architecture: The genesis and characteristics of leading trends. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Volner, I. (2020). Philip Johnson: A visual biography. Phaidon Press.

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