the events leading up to the international style of architecture being used in america

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 have been completely stripped of applied decoration, visually weightless qualities, open interior spaces, and an stimulating association with geometry. Glass, steel, and reinforced concrete are the characteristic materials of construction. The International style grew from three phenomena that architects had to deal with. The first problem was the incorporating mix of decorative elements from different architectural periods that had little or no relation to the building's functions. The second was the development and use of iron, steel, glass, and reinforced concrete, and thirdly the economical creation of mass numbers of office buildings. These three phenomena basically outlined the search for an economical architecture that would use the new materials and still appeal to the people's taste. This kind of new architecture embodied the classic and simple shapes of geometry, and followed the idea that every item would serve a function. Thus there would be absolutely no decorations. Bauhaus buildings have flat roofs, smooth facades and cubic shapes. Simple metals were used, such as steel and iron, and basic colors of black, white, and grays were used. This 'International Style' came to embody capitalism, since it favored huge glass and steel office buildings, such as the Seagram Building (1957) pictured below, by Mies van der Rohe along with Phillip Johnson. He developed a building with an internal steel structure, surrounded by a non-bearing "curtain" or covering, usually made of glass, thus the glass-box skyscraper. (Seagram Building, 1952) This building was quite a piece of work. It is generally recognized as the finest skyscraper designed and built in the International Style. The building has very elegant proportions. It is set ninety feet away from the main road, with thirty feet of space on either side. It is thirty-eight stories high. The tinted-glass and bronze 'I-beams' give the building its character. The 'I-beams' were attached to mullions to emphasize the height and verticality. Another example we have of the 'office buildings' is the Lever House, also on Park Avenue in New York. Although it was not designed by one of the Functionalists, it is one of the first high-rise buildings in the International Style. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP, and completed in 1952. It sits on the north side of corporate Park Avenue, and embodies the International Style with its functionalist form of steel and glass. It was also the first skyscraper to be built despite the new zoning regulations of the city and was the first curtain wall structure in the city. It was thus the 'curtain-wall pioneer' of New York City. (Lever Building, 1952) Considered to be in the transitional period of architecture, between Streamline Moderne and International Style, comes the McGraw-Hill building. The building is on 42nd Street in New York City, was designed by Raymond Hood and completed in 1931. To some it is considered to be the first building in the International Style, while to others it still holds onto characteristics of Streamline Moderne. In can be considered to be in the International Style primarily because of its lack of decoration and regularity in geometric shapes. As we can see from the picture below, it does hold true to the geometric shapes and simple cubic design. (McGraw-Hill Bldg, 1931) While skyscrapers were making its way to the top, there were other avenues of the International Style that were becoming very popular, and one of these was the furniture. A principle of the Bauhaus was to cater to the development of contemporary housing. The Bauhaus designers were infatuated with metal. Metal was cheaper, lighter, less bulky and more hygienic. The furniture designed in the International Style followed the same criteria as the buildings did, in that everything was functional. The designs were very smooth and made great use of geometric shapes and plain colors. Van der Rohe's furniture designs are closely connected to his architectural designs and have the same functionalist concept. His furniture compliments the interiors of his buildings. One infamous piece of furniture from this period of time is his Barcelona chair. It made its debut at the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. (Barcelona chair) (Brno Flat Chair) The Barcelona chair is a wide armless chair with leather quilted cushions, sitting atop a double X - shaped frame made of steel. It became the symbol for the elegance of the avante-garde lifestyle. Today, this piece of furniture is still as captivating as it was at its debut. A similar piece of furniture is Van der Rohe's Brno Flat Chair, pictured above. It has a flat steel frame in polished chrome with a leather sit and back. It is his characteristic conference chair. This is classic furniture at its best. One of the most unique pieces of furniture was designed by Marcel Breuer, called the 'Wassily Chair'. It was made in 1928, and carries the name of Breuer's friend and teaching colleague, Wassily Kandinsky. (Wassily Chair, 1928) This chair is the most modern-looking massive 'grandfather chair' and is made possible by using steel and leather. The best use of the specific character of material and form of each element is used in order to obtain both minimal weight and maximum strength. The tubular frame resists compression, and the leather straps resists traction. This chair is functional, linear and solid in space. It is luxurious at the same time, and holds true to the Bauhaus tradition of functionality. 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. (Grand Confort, 1928) As we can see, the International Style is one of the purest forms of Modernism. It holds to geometric designs with flat roofs and uniform arrangement of windows. The materials are steel, iron and metal, making it affordable and malleable in the eyes of the Bauhaus designers. The furniture from this period reflects the same concept. Smooth frames and the use of leather make them classic pieces that are still in high demand today. From the examples we have covered, we can see how International Style became a movement in the architectural world. With its 'Functionalists', Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier among others, it has left a distinguishing mark not only in history books, but in our minds because we see the physical accomplishments of this architectural style everyday. . to the top, there were other avenues of the International Style that were becoming very popular, and one of these was the furniture. A principle of the Bauhaus. completed in 1931. To some it is considered to be the first building in the International Style, while to others it still holds onto characteristics of Streamline