The Modern Vernacular :: Heritage

While there may never be a convergence of the traditional vernacular and modern architecture, the study of both provides lessons that can inform a modern vernacular. In this post I will be very charitable to modernism since I'm only looking for the best aspects that will help fulfill the promise of modernism.

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Modern architecture grappled with several problems of the industrial age. There had to be a way to make an architecture out of the new materials available. The materials opened up new worlds of exploration in design since they were lighter, thinner, and cost effective. Instead of adding cost and space that would be unused in order to mimic the physical depth and character of traditional and classical buildings, the moderns took upon the challenge by seeking new forms of expression with the new materials. As the theory advanced layers of sophistication and nuance were added atop and within the plain white box. This layering gives depth of detail and meaning to the buildings. This richness was only accessible to the trained eye in far too many instances. [Eisenman octagon(?) columns, Graves' early houses, Charles Moore, etc.]

Certain architects embraced the thinness of the materials [Moore, Venturi, Tigerman] while others sought to fool the eye. Some chose to work with materials that had inherent depth and avoided the problem altogether [Corbu, Aalto, Kahn, Botta, et.al.]. By choosing concrete and brick these architects were able to build with a sense of permanence and repose in lieu of the transience typical of the papier maché houses of cards mentioned above.

Therein lies the rub between traditionalists and modernists. While the trad-archers are reviled as those tacking on detail merely as pastiche, the moderns are reviled for their attempts at fooling the eye and proclaiming to be honest to the materials. It is within this crease where the modern and the traditional can meet in order to inform the modern vernacular.

1. Utilize the concepts of open space planning to provide a spacious interior
2. Understand the methods that provide spatial definition to prevent the space from feeling like a cargo container
3. Minimize the number of openings but standardize and increase their size to reduce construction costs
4. Build for permanence and out of solid materials when able to be greener and provide physical depth
5. Proportions should relate to the end user, usually human

I intend to expand upon these principles and show them in practice. I'll also go through the work of the proto-modernists and modernist architects referenced above to show how their work can positively influence the genesis of a modern vernacular.

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens: Architect