Overview of International Style Architecture

Feb 20, 2025

Lecture on International Style Architecture

Introduction

  • International Style originated from a show named "International Style Architecture since 1922" at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, NY.
  • Represents a mix of Bauhaus and modern architecture.

Characteristics of International Style

  • Functional style crossing national and cultural boundaries.
  • Materials Used: Steel, reinforced concrete, wide windows.
  • Design Elements:
    • Uninterrupted interior spaces.
    • Simple lines and strict geometric forms.
    • Efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Skyscrapers and Construction Techniques

  • Common in cities like Chicago.
  • Transition from Art Deco to International Style characterized by more windows and less masonry.
  • Construction involves a core of concrete and steel, with floors cantilevered off the central core.
  • Exterior steel used aesthetically to create grids for windows.
  • Fire safety measures include spraying concrete on steel elements.

Cantilever Design

  • Allows for wide open floor spaces without columns.
  • Vertical construction is efficient due to high land costs.

Horizontal Skyscrapers

  • Example: General Motors Technology Center.
  • Mimics skyscraper principles in a horizontal layout.
  • Reflects similarities to Bauhaus style.

Residential Architecture

  • Homes mimic commercial space with open, horizontal structures.
  • Massive patios and glass walls.
  • Blurs line between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Furniture Influences

  • Bauhaus Influence: Designers like Gropius coming to the U.S., teaching (e.g., Harvard), influencing design.
  • Use of modern technology such as steel tube construction.

Notable Furniture Pieces

  • Wassili Chair: Inspired by bicycle construction using tubular steel and leather.
  • Lacio Table: Accompanies Wassili Chair, uses similar tubular steel design.
  • Barcelona Chair: Mix of carpentry, upholstery, and metalwork, reflecting Bauhaus influence.
  • Bibendum Chair: Inspired by Michelin tires, uses chrome finish and overstuffed back.
  • Womb Chair: Fiberglass shell, foam rubber layer, upholstery.
  • Tulip Chair: Made by Knoll, molded in fiberglass, complex form, permits rotation.

Conclusion

  • International Style and modern architecture often overlap and integrate characteristics from each other.
  • Represents a pivotal movement in 20th-century architecture and design, emphasizing functionality and simplicity.