One common criticism of modern architects such as Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius is that while their goals might have been laudable, the execution and physical manifestation of their beliefs is somehow disconnected from the culture in which it grew out of. As ‘ineffective’ as critics might say this style was, there is great importance in the entire movement made in architecture during the mid-twentieth century. Understanding where the International Style came from, who was involved and what accomplishments were made will allow us to appreciate the architecture we see around us everyday.
The International Style began as a movement in architecture known as ‘Bauhaus’. This was a German expression used for ‘house for building’. ‘Bauhaus’ became an institution from which a new social order would arise. Walter Gropius was the head of this institution, but once the Nazis shut down the school, the ‘Functionalists’ as they were known, emigrated to the U.S. The Functionalists included Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and others. The term ‘International Style’ was used to describe the American form of ‘Bauhaus’ architecture. Common characteristics of International Style buildings are rectangular forms that ha
One more chair that is important to note is Le Corbusier’s ‘Grand Confort’. It was designed in 1928 and also has a chrome-plated tubular steel frame with loose leather-covered cushions that fit snuggly into the frame. It is no wonder it is called the ‘Grand Confort’. The revolutionary idea of exposing the steel frame transformed a traditional club chair into a modern object destined to become a classic design.
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