Modern Style

Modern Style

Modern

The Eye
Location:	Lambeth, London

Overview

This article will talk about the Modern architectural style and its key characteristics.

Background

Architecture which is considered modern is from a style that emerged during the first half of the 20th century especially following the First World War. Modern architecture started here in Europe before making its way to America. Modern style architecture refused old styles and wanted to create a new form to fulfill needs and opportunities of new material and structural approaches.

Characteristics

As we all use the phase, ‘it looks modern’, we really mean it looks simple in design and form. This is accomplished by the use of simple, plain, geometric forms, rectangular shapes, and linear elements. In many cases, the modern building has open and undivided living and working spaces to keep a simple, open and flexible floor plan. Modern architecture also used the new building approach of reinforced concrete and steel frames. The creation of the steel frame allowed the outer walls to simply keep the weather out and the weight of the building was now held up by the interior frame instead. The steel frame also allowed for the more open floor plan since it created wider interior spaces.

Modern architecture has three distinct features. One, it emphasizes its volume over mass, which means the outer walls are thinner. Two, its rejection of symmetry, which allows it to be considered untraditional at the time. And thirdly, the rejection of applied decoration, and instead using the elements of the building itself instead of adding to it.

While these modern characteristics can be seen in The Shard and the London Eye, aspects can also be seen in City Hall and the Gherkin.