In a design sense, the concept of modernism was propelled forward by architects such as Le Corbusier, Aalvar Alto and Frank Lloyd Wright. Modernism had its first major appearance in architecture at the Bauhaus in Dessau in 1919.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Known as the most famous architect from the United States, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867 to 1959) is considered the pioneer of modernist design. His most famous design is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, which features centralized geometry similar to a seashell. Incorporating natural elements down to every last detail, Wright's designs are simple yet elegant. His style has been labeled the "cornerstone of modernism." Frank Lloyd Wright was a designer that had a huge impact on architecture in America and abroad.
Le Corbusier
Born as Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, Le Corbusier (1887 to 1965) was made famous for his invaluable contributions to what is now called modernism or international style. Corbusier was concerned with providing better living conditions for the residents of crowded cities, such as those who were living in the slums of Paris. His designs allowed a way for many people to live comfortably and experience an upgrade in their living conditions.
One of his earliest works was known as the "domino house," which had an open floor plan with exposed concrete slabs supported by a few thin, concrete piers and a stairway. The domino house served as a model for the next 10 years of his career. Le Corbusier's most famous contribution to modernism is found in his furniture creations: the Chaise Lounge (LC4) and the (LC2) Chaise Cushion Basket, which are still popular today.
Bauhaus at Dessau
The Bauhaus was an unconventional art school in Germany between 1919 and 1933, whose objective was to unify art, craft and technology. Its funding was provided by Parliament, and it was created during a time of crisis and turmoil in Europe. The most literal translation for "Bauhaus" is "architecture house."
The construction of the Bauhaus broke all rules and architectural precedents that had come before it. Bauhaus became one of the most influential currents in modernist architecture and interior design style. Its sharp, 90-degree angles were the foundation of this groundbreaking modernist design. Almost entirely transparent, it had walls of glass encased in steel. Bauhaus had little or no decoration or ornamentation. With visible pipes and ceiling fixtures, Bauhaus represents a radical simplification of form, a key idea in modernism.
Alvar Aalto
Known as the first and most influential architects of Nordic modernism, Aalto (1898 to 1976) changed his classical approach to a modernistic one in the 1920s. His good reputation reached the United States in 1939 after his design for the Finnish Pavilion was called a "work of genius" by Frank Lloyd Wright. Aalto also received much attention for his entry in a book about modern architecture called, "Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition."
Frank Gehry
Born in 1929, Frank Gehry studied city planning at the Harvard School of Design and graduated from USC in 1954. His most famous works include the Guggenheim Museum in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Although Gehry's work falls under the classification of postmodernist architecture, Gehry claims no association with this style. His twisted metal forms and unconventional shapes may indeed place Frank Gehry in a class of his own.
