SESSION VIII: Antoni Gaudí vs. Mies Van der Rohe

Timelines much like the previously studied, Meye's Synoptic Vision or Jenk's Evolutionary Tree of the 20th Century Architecture have helped us understand, from an architectural point of view, which circumstances affected each style, as well as decisions in terms of design and art. The process of industrialization, increasing everywhere towards the end of the 19th century, demanded several aspects of housing design to be shifted away from what was previously proposed as a solution. Economic, social, and cultural factors affected the way space was perceived, resulting in new design styles, including the reinterpretation of existing ones; such as Neoclassicist design. The factors affecting as well as influencing this shift, however, were not the same in all countries. This caused a contrast between different visions of the same "modernist" movement across the world.

One of the most important people of the Catalan Modernism is Antonio Gaudí. His work took place between the 19th and 20th century, creating a mixture between architectural and sculptured design. Similar to him; Mies Van der Rohe was also an icon amongst the modernist community, yet he explored more simple design, which later on will be key in the Bauhaus movement. Even though both are completely different, they are both categorized under the same movement , in exception to when it comes to style. They are opposite in terms of aesthetics, yet masters in their own designs from which present architecture has used as a guide and learnt a lot from.

Gaudí, which was born in Catalina (1852) is recognized for his materialistic approach, and his more free-spirited, artistic designs. One can see in all his works brick formations, as well as beautiful, colorful mosaics assorted in a rather sporadic way. Some of his works are: Park Güell (illustrated on the right), and the Colonia Güell Crypt. Eluding to past Gothic cathedrals, he utilizes columns supporting the left side of the exterior (similar to buttresses), as well as stained glass to illuminate the nave's curved ceiling.

Both these projects helped shape his most famous work yet: the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia. His style came to be a mixture of Gothic Cathedral style, along with Art-Noveau inspired style. He mastered them in a way that allowed him to work in all sorts of scales, ranging from massive structures, to countryside residences, to urban scaled works. Some examples of this are: Casa Milá (private residence adapted to Cerdá’s Barcelona plan), and La Pedrera (a work featuring art-deco sculptures and a sculpted stone façade in it's balconies).

On a more simplistic note, Rohe is the opposite of Gaudí's style. Modern design, although it doesn't ignore Gaudí's impact, it is more inclined towards this tendency. Starting with it's more practical point of view, and mass manufacture eluding to the Bauhaus School; the German architect is shown as one of the most influential figures of this movement.

Though the Bauhaus officially had ended, his works as mentioned before eluded to this, taking into account subtle changes in color and material to awaken the senses. He proposed "less is more", setting out to do a lot more with very little. Some of his works are: The Barcelona Pavilion (1929; illustrated above), which is a composition of merely columns, solid walls and glass; and The Crown Hall (1956; illustrated to the left), located in Chicago, which has a grid-based, open-plan organization, with curtain wall façades (another element seen recurrently in modern architecture).

Both architect's approaches contrast with each other, yet they influence any building that uses aspects such as order, transparency, plasticity, and mixtures between art and architecture. As an emerging designer, one must choose which valid style to derive from, or if it will follow at all. To design with a more artistic, embellished character, while taking in certain conscience of the past will lead you towards Gaudí's designs. To design with a more practical, simple approach would make you choose Rohe's path. Both should, and must be considered, whilst conditioning to when and where you stand as a designer, and what do you which your client to perceive in the space you've created.

References:

• Mies in Berlin: MoMA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/167

• Richman-Abdou, K., & V. (2020, September 08). Bauhaus: How the Avant-Garde Movement Transformed Modern Art. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-bauhaus-art-movement/

• Richman-Abdou, K., T., & V. (2017, September 09). Magnificent Art Nouveau Architecture of the Great Antoni Gaudí. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://mymodernmet.com/antoni-gaudi-architecture/