Blog 4

Le Corbusier defined modern architecture through his residential designs by utilizing his own set of fundamental rules that he thought were important. Le Corbusier used a modular system for proportioning spaces based on the golden ratio or the Vitruvius man. Corbusier also utilized a basic five points of architecture which could be seen throughout his works. The first point being his use of pilotis, these large load bearing columns took weight off walls inside the building allowing for complete manipulation of the free floor plan, they also captured his belief in future urbanism where buildings would be constructed above circulation. His second point of architecture was a concept of a free or open floor plan, because no walls were load bearing walls could be placed according to space design rather than being dictated by the structure. Three is similar to point two, a concept of a free façade, just like a free floor plan exterior walls were not dictated by structure. The free façade is best seen utilized in the placement of his signature long sliding windows. The fourth point was the idea of using green roofs in order to counter the land lost due to the buildings footprint. Le Corbusiers major works of residential architecture were the Villa Savoye, Maison La Roche, Maison Citrohan, and Maison Ozenfant.

Maison Citrohan - vam.ac.uk

Villa Savoye - paperlandmarks.com

Maison Ozenfant - sandiego.edu

Alvar Aalto was a Nordic architect who influence modern architecture, especially in the field of residential design. Aalto has an idea of incorporating nature into his designs, referencing the relationship between buildings and the natural environment. Aalto utilized natural forms in some of his works, one of which was the Baker House for MIT. He used natural materials and inventive structural systems in his designs to make them stand out. The best example of his residential design would be for his summer home, named the experimental house. In that house he would design over fifty brick laying patterns and encouraged overgrowth of plants from the surrounding area.  His major works were the Experimental house, The Baker house, and his design of Saynatzalo Town Hall.

Experimental house - blogspot.com

Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe explored the use of traditionally industrial materials in home design as well as his other buildings. This use of materials was a signature of Mies Van der Rohe, one of the best examples of which being in his design of the Farnsworth house. The Farnsworth house was unique because of its industrial nature that maintained a constant connection to nature due to its lack of opaque walls. Perhaps the reason for the success was his simplistic expression of industrial elements as ornament. The Barcelona pavilion which was a temporary structure, utilized raw materials which gave character to the spaces inside. Another successful work was the Villa Tugendhat. In the design of the villa he used a free floor plan strategy which allowed for the entertainment of large numbers of guests in the home. The definition of the spaces is unique because of its ability to define smaller spaces within, without major elements obstructing the sanctity of the space.

Tugendhat House - nytimes.com

Farnsworth House - blogspot.com