International Style

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Minimalist design with an emphasis on function over form and the use of modern materials.

Bauhaus Movement: The Bauhaus school of design and architecture that emerged during the 1920s and 1930s and emphasized functionality, simplicity, and aesthetic minimalism.
Le Corbusier: A celebrated Swiss-French architect, designer, and urban planner whose designs were instrumental in shaping the modernist movement in architecture.
Modernism: A broad term encompassing a variety of artistic, literary, and architectural movements that emerged in the 20th century, characterized by a rejection of tradition, an emphasis on innovation, and a focus on abstraction and formal experimentation.
International Style: A modernist architectural style that emerged during the 1920s and 1930s and emphasized functionalism, geometric shapes, and a lack of ornamentation.
Glass and steel construction: The use of glass and steel as primary building materials, characteristic of the International Style, allowed for more efficient and flexible construction.
Functionalism: The idea that architecture should serve a practical purpose and prioritize functionality over decoration or symbolism.
Streamlining: The use of aerodynamic forms and sleek lines in architecture, influenced by industrial design and the emerging technology of the 1920s and 1930s.
Design for mass production: The emphasis on standardized, modular building components and the use of prefabrication to streamline the construction process and make architecture more accessible to the general public.
Expressionism: An artistic and architectural style that emphasized emotional expression and emphasized the individuality of the artist/architect. Not strictly part of the International style, but influential in the early 20th century.
Totalitarian architecture: The architecture of totalitarian regimes, characterized by grandiose, monumental structures that emphasized the power and authority of the state. Not part of the International style, but can provide useful context for understanding the period.
Functionalism: Emphasizes function over form in design, favoring simplicity, clean lines, and geometric forms.
Bauhaus: A German art movement that emphasizes the use of new materials and techniques in design, such as glass, steel, and reinforced concrete.
Rationalism: A style that stresses the importance of logic and reason in the design process, resulting in simplified and streamlined buildings.
International modernism: A style developed in the 1920s-30s characterized by anonymity in design, white-box, and minimal decoration.
De Stijl: A Dutch art movement that developed in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of geometric shapes and primary colors.
Art Deco: A style popular in the 1920s and 30s, characterized by bold geometric shapes, intricate patterns, and bright colors.
Streamline Moderne: An American style from the 1930s that emphasizes curved forms, smooth lines, and streamlined shapes.
Brutalism: A style from the 1950s-70s, characterized by the use of exposed concrete, sparse decoration, and a focus on function over form.
Postmodern: A style developed in the 1980s, characterized by playful, eclectic, and sometimes ironic juxtaposition of historical styles and motifs.
High-tech: A style developed in the 1980s characterized by the use of advanced technology, such as prefabricated construction and computer-aided design.
"The International Style or internationalism is a major architectural style that was developed in the 1920s and 1930s and was closely related to modernism and modernist architecture."
"It was first defined by Museum of Modern Art curators Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson in 1932..."
"...based on works of architecture from the 1920s."
"The terms rationalist architecture and modern movement are often used interchangeably with International Style..."
"...although the former is mostly used in the English-speaking world to specifically refer to the Italian rationalism, or even the International Style that developed in Europe as a whole."
"It is defined by the Getty Research Institute as 'the style of architecture that emerged in The Netherlands, France, and Germany after World War I and spread throughout the world, becoming the dominant architectural style until the 1970s.'"
"The style is characterized by an emphasis on volume over mass, the use of lightweight, mass-produced, industrial materials, rejection of all ornament and colour, repetitive modular forms, and the use of flat surfaces, typically alternating with areas of glass."
"The style is characterized by an emphasis on volume over mass..."
"The use of lightweight, mass-produced, industrial materials..."
"Rejection of all ornament and colour..."
"Repetitive modular forms..."
"The use of flat surfaces, typically alternating with areas of glass."
"The Netherlands, France, and Germany..."
"Until the 1970s..."
"It was closely related to modernism and modernist architecture."
"Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson..."
"Yes, the former is mostly used in the English-speaking world to specifically refer to the Italian rationalism or even the International Style that developed in Europe as a whole."
"Based on works of architecture from the 1920s."
"The style is characterized by an emphasis on volume over mass, the use of lightweight, mass-produced, industrial materials, rejection of all ornament and colour, repetitive modular forms, and the use of flat surfaces, typically alternating with areas of glass."
"It spread throughout the world, becoming the dominant architectural style until the 1970s."