Appreciating Modern Architecture

Any big city you go to is most likely going to have huge steel, iron, and glass buildings that stand stories in the air and tower over you. These building create a look of impressiveness and greatness and make cities today look the way they do. You might feel overwhelmed when you first encounter a city of magnitude because of all the looming buildings which are, for the most part, pieces of modern architecture.

If you have been to a big city, you probably have noticed that most of these looming grey buildings all look pretty similar to each other. Sure, they are not all the same height or color, but they all have similar traits. This is because the traits are features of modern architecture.

Modern architecture was established primarily after the Second World War for a number of reasons. At this point in time, many different developments were taking place with engineering and technological advances. Architects began to experiment with iron, steel, and glass, for their buildings, which has continued through today and are very popular in the building of modern architecture. Plus, during this time corporations and huge businesses were beginning to come about and it was necessary to have large buildings to meet their needs. Obviously the simplest way to build large buildings is to create a very simple structure and build it as high as needed.

Modern architects wanted to do away with ornamental design and make their buildings simple yet impressive. This began a whole new shift in the typical style of buildings in America to modern architecture which, before that were focusing on the international style where buildings are elaborate and ornamental. Although these international buildings might look prettier and fancier, modern architecture can be just as impressive. Skyscrapers are the very defining buildings of what modern architecture is all about.

Although buildings in America today are composed of a number of architectural styles, modern architecture has just as much, if not more presence, than other architectural styles. Whenever you think about America, big cities will probably come to mind, along with all the modern architecture that makes them up. This architectural style is by far the most practical, convenient, and impressive style of architecture for the lay out and plan of a city in order to fulfill all the needs that cities do.

Around the 1960’s there began to be some criticism of modern architecture because it was accused of being boring, lacking, universal, and sterile. Many thought it did not have enough personality to convey the feelings and culture within a city. It is important to remember that all forms of architecture have their meaning, place, and purpose. Although modern architecture might not have the most personality as other forms of architecture, it has a purpose and serves a function that other styles of architecture would be unable to. It is necessary in our culture today and makes up who and what America stands for.

Appreciating all the different styles of architecture as art, including modern architecture, is important because all of them make up America. America is a melting pot in every way, including the various forms of architecture that exist within it. Understanding the different forms of architecture and how they are important and why they are unique is important in understanding the history and culture of America.

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