Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier

Summaries

What is Modern Architecture?

Modern architecture is comprised of function, abstraction, modern technology, space and form, but it has many definitions. Spaces like the International Architecture Exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York view each architectural thing as free from specific ideals, whether it be geographical or historic constraints. One architect Neurath brought a new definition of modern architecture to the surface. He laid importance on isotype and the ability of it to communicate, potentially bridging the gap between modern architecture and its users.

One of the buildings discussed was the Crown Law Office building in Kenya. The author touches on the relationship between modern architecture, race, and violence and how the architect, Amyas Connell was able to add ornament to the skin of the building while staying in line with the rules for the overall building and its structure. The final structures readers get to glimpse at are the “Maison Tropicale” re-worked houses designed by Angela Ferreira. Her work vastly differentiates from what modern architecture might usually be thought of as. The author takes it in a different direction, explaining how although the actual structures fail at aligning with modern architecture, the scenes surrounding the houses do align. The ‘everyday’ nature of the scenes brings about modernity because of how mundane, yet layered they are.

Like most subcategories within architecture, adding modernism to the mix has its own complexities and many individuals interpret their own definition.

Non-West Modernist Past: Rethinking Modernisms and Modernities Beyond the West

The names we use as identifiers can have lasting effects. The terms used for “West” and “Non-West” have been around for a while and many individuals automatically attach hierarchy to both. One term comes to the fore front as more important and the primary region, while the other doesn’t even really have its own identity. It’s just the “Non-West.” The terms Colonial, Third World, and Developing World add to this unimportance and secondary tier on the important region pyramid. The boundary between both regions extends to more than just outside, but between architecture and non-architecture as well.

Although the hierarchy between the two does seem to have slowly decreased, it is still a hurdle that many must deal with. One of the authors Chakrabarty points out how the issue with these regions being separated not only by location but by name, invites historicism and pre-conceived notions about each region. An enlightening phrase Chakrabarty uses is “first in Europe, then elsewhere,” supporting his notion on how the non-west region is viewed, without equal significance.

The assumption of unimportance that the non-west region receives is still very much apparent, but a few continents and countries are making somewhat of a step forward regarding modernism. Africa has positively shifted from oppressive colonial modernism to a situated modernism, which is a monumental feat.

Without those researching and advocating for the non-west region, it would be a lot farther behind than it is currently. Some boundaries between the two regions may be decreasing and are in the past, but bringing attention and supporting the non-west region is still very important.

Crafting Architecture Criticism

The act of providing architectural criticism is a key element to the entire process of creating a piece. It is imperative that the professionals, professors, or whomever are criticizing a piece do so with close observation and careful consideration and description. There are so many layers that go into criticism, and it’s proven by Skirkanich Hall in Philadelphia, as the author explains. Without the thorough deep dive he made into the project, the ideas and thought behind the building would be lost. The preliminary first look only brushed the surface which was why the project was seen as diverging from the precedent. Once every single layer was examined, the vision was seen, accepted, and even praised.

Each step of criticism goes into quite a bit of detail. It’s not only what potential critics need to add to the project, but also what they shouldn’t be adding. It’s important to go over what’s already been covered, so there should never be any restatement of what someone’s already looked over or an elaboration of what someone has already said. Even though the project has already been built up and put together, critics have the important role of reconstructing the project again, using their tips and criticisms to make the piece even better than it was before.

Without criticism, an individual’s project, knowledge base, discipline and more is unable to progress and grow. Architectural criticism is an integral part of the process of creating a project and if we didn’t practice it, architecture would be at a standstill.

Critique Response

The divide between West and Non-West has always been around, but I’ve never quite realized how apparent it is, unfortunately. Of course, looking back on it now, labeling two regions “West” and “Non-West”, is an obvious way of putting Non-West in its own box without an identity or purpose. Regardless of the reasons for why they were named as such, I found by reading more and more about the background and struggles that the region has with modern architecture, the hope for things to possibly turn around. That hope magnified when the authors spoke about different continents or countries that have since been able to move up on the ladder of importance and gain some individuality and identity. I really appreciated all the differing viewpoints from various authors that were put in throughout the article, as I feel like I learned something new from each of their arguments and perspectives.

Application and Interpretation

Former mosque turned community center, Niger 2018

The Hikma Complex in Niger is an incredible blend of old and new. Composed of compressed-earth bricks from the nearby village, it invokes a sense of warmth and belonging. The infrastructure was previously a Hausa mosque and was restored into a community center and library after it had deteriorated. Projects like this help build something new up from something that was previously used and loved. It allows a building to have a new life while still encompassing its rich culture and history from its past use. Sharing resources and bringing attention to Non-western projects helps to continue the practice of adding modern architecture to previously used buildings.

Take Away

• Modern architecture may have the word ‘modern’ in it, but it consists of so much more than new times

• Modernism used to be more involved in architectural aesthetic, but over time it’s now more about relationships to social conditions

• Architectural criticism is as much for the critic as it is for the individual receiving a critique