Word Count: 1122
Modernism vs Neo-Traditionalism: A debate on the merits and failures of
major competing paradigms in architecture and urban planning.
two
Beyond the term modernism underlies one of the greatest ideas in architectural
development. Modernism was meant to provide more green areas, cheaper housing and
more efficient use of space. This was to be accomplished by creating vertically dense
spaces with the use of the new inventions of the nineteenth century, such as steel, glass,
electricity and elevators. By decreasing costs of building, modernists hoped to provide
cheaper housing, affordable to almost anybody. The modernist movement was also
promising to meet the growing demand for office spaces, hence the motto “form follows
function” . Today, the inhabitants of every large city are able to see products of
modernist influence. Its opposite, neo-traditionalism, is admired for its beauty and
variety. “Small City U.S.A.” is an extremely popular concept among today’s citizens,
looking to escape the ordinary, colorless office buildings. Boring and redundant, is
modernism today what it was conceptualized to be? Its ideas shape today’s housing,
from housing projects to single homes that have neo-traditional skin. Modernist concepts
are of incredible importance and necessity; however, they were misunderstood in
application.
“Modernism was a response to the rise of industrial manufacturing as man’s chief
economic activity.” Modernism fulfilled the growing demand for office space. It made
use of such inventions as steel, glass, concrete and elevators. Steel and concrete allowed
building to go to whole new heights. Glass and electricity provided lighting, thus making
the workday longer. Elevators made the office buildings possible by carrying its
inhabitants to any floor in the building. These materials also solved the problem of
fireproofing and were definitely less costly than the materials used for traditional
buildings. At the same time, modernist buildings became uniform: built from the same
materials, modular, colorless with the same components, flat roofs and lack of
ornamentation. Kunstler argued that such buildings have seized to have any meaning
that they destroy social arrangements and do not consider natural resources. He blamed
modernism for ruining the cities with corporate gigantism, failing to create public spaces
and sending people off to suburbs, where they have no sense of community.
So what kept such a “destructive” and redundant architectural trend? “Form
follows function”, said Sullivan, one of the founding fathers of modernism. As a
response to mechanization and industrialization, modernism was extremely beneficial to
companies that needed office space. To have a skyscraper built was a great investment
on the company’s side, not only did it provide the necessary office space, it also allowed
to lease the remaining offices to other companies, thus making a profit. Modernism also
appealed to the general population since the rise in birth rates provided a greater demand
for housing. Many argued that same modular spaces would promote equality among its
inhabitants. Modernism also promised to create more public spaces with green areas and
waterworks by the virtue of vertical density. Supposedly, there would be more space.
Not to forget, the building and maintenance costs of a modernist building were
significantly less than that of a traditional one.
However, nor Federal Plaza, a textbook modernist landscape, nor housing
projects seem to have public spaces around them. Modernism was applied selectively,
leaving out perhaps one of its most important functions. And although Mies van der
Rohe did say the less is more in terms of ornamentation, there do not seem to be any
sources that argue that modernist buildings have to be so redundant. There’s no reason
that modernist architecture and can not have some creative expression to make it perhaps
a little more appealing to the eye. It is no wonder that so many people like the Harold
Washington Library building more than the Federal Plaza, just like it is no wonder that so
many people try to escape the modernist landscape by moving farther and farther from
the industrial core.
As a response to the growing need for beauty, post-modernism and neotraditionalism develop. Neo-traditionalism came out of the longing for the single housing
and green spaces, “Small City U.S.A.”. One of the strongest examples of neotraditionalism is the Disney’s creation Celebration, Florida. This planned community has
a variety of buildings, around twenty types, that people can buy. All of these buildings
have modernist guts and traditional skin. The city appeals by its vast presence of public
spaces and the beauty of its housing accommodations. Even the office buildings inside
the city are built in the traditional style. This kind of town is what many Americans
yearn for after the modernist experience.
Neo-traditionalism, of course, has its flaws. The Celebration houses are meant for
the elite, with the prices starting at about $ 200,000. Having only traditional housing in
every single city would lead to more homeless people who can not afford such housing.
However, homes with neo-traditional skin can also be mass-produced.
Then, even the traditional homes are touched by modernism. In today’s society, it
would be almost impossible to have a completely traditional home. Modernist thinkers
had great ideas that were unfortunately diminished to the modernist buildings one sees
today. There’s no question that our society needs office buildings and green spaces.
Modernism was supposed to provide for both.
People who despise modernism, probably do not know what it is supposed to be.
Post-modernism seems to be more or less of an answer. It finally lets modernist
buildings nurture creativity. Post-modernist buildings vary in shape, size and color, thus
making them more appealing to the eye and less redundant. It seems that the costs of
such innovations would still be less than those of traditional buildings.
I believe that our society needs post-modernism. People long for trees and parks
and waterfronts, as well as for buildings that one can look at and think, “Oh, G-d, that is
beautiful.” We need this no less than we need office buildings. Modernism and postmodernism are deemed to be different, and they are in the sense that post-modernism is
exactly what modernism was supposed to be, may be with a bit more variety. In many
instances, post-modernist buildings are even more attractive than neo-traditional. So,
maybe one day when all modernist ideals are realized, a person will come out of the new
Federal Plaza and for a hundredth time think, “This is the most relaxing landscape I’ve
ever seen.
Keywords:
word count modernism traditionalism debate merits failures major competing paradigms
architecture urban planning beyond term modernism underlies greatest ideas architectural
development modernism meant provide more green areas cheaper housing more efficient
space this accomplished creating vertically dense spaces with inventions nineteenth
century such steel glass electricity elevators decreasing costs building modernists hoped
provide cheaper housing affordable almost anybody modernist movement also promising
meet growing demand office spaces hence motto form follows function today inhabitants
every large city able products modernist influence opposite traditionalism admired beauty
variety small city extremely popular concept among today citizens looking escape
ordinary colorless office buildings boring redundant today what conceptualized ideas
shape housing from projects single homes that have traditional skin modernist concepts
incredible importance necessity however they were misunderstood application response
rise industrial manufacturing chief economic activity fulfilled growing demand office
space made such inventions steel glass concrete elevators steel concrete allowed building
whole heights glass electricity provided lighting thus making workday longer elevators
made buildings possible carrying inhabitants floor building these materials also solved
problem fireproofing were definitely less costly than materials used traditional buildings
same time became uniform built from same materials modular colorless with same
components flat roofs lack ornamentation kunstler argued that such have seized have
meaning that they destroy social arrangements consider natural resources blamed ruining
cities with corporate gigantism failing create public spaces sending people suburbs where
they sense community what kept destructive redundant architectural trend form follows
function said sullivan founding fathers response mechanization industrialization
extremely beneficial companies needed space skyscraper built great investment company
side only provide necessary also allowed lease remaining offices other companies thus
making profit appealed general population since rise birth rates provided greater demand
many argued modular would promote equality among inhabitants promised create more
public green areas waterworks virtue vertical density supposedly there would forget
maintenance costs were significantly less than traditional however federal plaza textbook
landscape projects seem public around them applied selectively leaving perhaps most
important functions although mies rohe less terms ornamentation there seem sources
argue redundant there reason architecture some creative expression make perhaps little
appealing wonder many people like harold washington library than federal plaza just like
wonder many people escape landscape moving farther farther from industrial core
response growing need beauty post traditionalism develop came longing single green
small city strongest examples disney creation celebration florida this planned community
variety around twenty types these guts skin appeals vast presence beauty
accommodations even inside built style this kind town what americans yearn after
experience course flaws celebration houses meant elite prices starting about having only
every single would lead homeless afford however homes skin mass produced then even
homes touched society almost impossible completely home thinkers great ideas
unfortunately diminished sees question society needs supposed both despise probably
know supposed post seems answer finally lets nurture creativity post vary shape size
color thus making them appealing seems costs innovations still those believe society
needs long trees parks waterfronts well look think beautiful need need deemed different
sense exactly supposed variety instances even attractive maybe when ideals realized
person will come federal plaza hundredth time think most relaxing landscape ever seen
Keywords General:
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