International Style

The International Style became synonymous with corporate modernism, "architecture of the modern movement". An International Exhibition was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. US architect Philip Johnson gave this style its name and identity. The style was linked with political movements, particularly the socialist and the communist administrations. It also became a worldwide symbol of modernity, since countries were enthusiastically eager to industrialize and compete politically and economically.

This style was sometimes called ‘minimalist’ architecture. Structures are distinguished as they are absent from decorations and minimized to their most fundamental tectonic features. Enormous extents of windows are used together with supplementary features similar to cantilevers. This brings the dwellers nearby to nature even when indoors since it removes completely the distinction between the interior and the exterior. The recently discovered cheap iron and steel, and subsequently the steel skeleton structure, made the traditional brick and stone construction techniques outdated. Architects began using steel-enhanced concrete for floors and other secondary support elements, and fenestrating the exteriors of buildings with glass.

The most common characteristics of International Style buildings are rectilinear forms such as light, taut plane surfaces that are completely devoid of applied ornamentation and decoration, open and even fluid interior spaces and a visually weightless quality engendered by the use of cantilever construction. Modern materials like glass for the facade, steel for exterior support and concrete for interior support and floors were used to enhance the construction. The International Style generated a balance between artistic expression, aspect, practical use and technology which was established in an austere and disciplined new architecture, suitable authentication of modern innovation and development.

Furniture designs are basic and practical with no applied decoration or references to historical styles. They were constructed of tubular steel and glass to be mass produced and also definitely inexpensive. Upholstered pieces manifest an immeasurable utilization of black, brown or natural leather to harmonize with the undecorated interiors.

1. The Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer
2. The Barcelona Couch by Mies van der Rohe
3. The Barcelona Table by Mies van der Rohe
4. The Barcelona Lounge Chair by Mies van der Rohe
5. Adjustable Table E1027 by Eileen Gray
6. The Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen
7. Laccio Tables by Marcel Breuer
8. LC4 Chaise Longue by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret
9. LC2 Petite Modele Two-Seat Sofa by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand

The International Style is generally considered as the climax of modernist architecture, the final product to find a method of style in structure complementing the present that discarded the patterns and decorations of the past. The modern aspect was clearly noticeable by establishments with enormous extents of glass windows, tubular steel frames for furnishings, sleek materials like leather, steel and plastic, as well as scanty decorations. This Style had become an absolutely worldwide typical example of modernism.

Charles Edouard Jeanneret known as Le Corbusier, streamlined architecture to its major practical characteristics. His utopian designs were sometimes distinguished by the substantial utilization of enhanced pre-cast concrete which progressed to Brutalism, a superior-practical style of urban and campus architecture. Some of his best-known International Style works are the Villa Savoye (1928-30) Poissy-sur-Seine in France, the Semi-Detached House (1927) Weissenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart and Unite d'Habitation (1958) Interbau Fair in Berlin.

Le Corbusier with his model Villa Savoye (1928)

Mies van der Rohe was most obviously identified for the glass and steel skyscrapers such as the Lake Shore Drive Apartments (1948-51) in Chicago, the sumptuous Seagram Building (1958) in New York, designed in collaboration with the interior designer Philip Johnson and the IBM Building (1971) (now 330 North Wabash) in New York.

Lake Shore Drive Apartments by Mies van der Rohe (1949-51)

Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud assisted in bringing more rounded and smooth continuous geometric figures to the movement. He designed numerous apartment blocks with a sober but practical austerity. One of his sophisticated and geometrical International Style comprised the Bio-Children's Convalescent Home (1960) near Arnhem.

Bio-Children’s Convalescent  Home by JJP Oud (1960)

Famous International Style Buildings

Among the most iconic examples of the International Style of architecture are the following:

- The Fagus Factory (1911-25) Alfeld on the Leine (Gropius)
- The Bauhaus School Building (1925) at Dessau (Gropius)
- Lovell House (1929) Los Angeles (Neutra)
- Villa Savoye (1929-30) Poissy-sur-Seine (Le Corbusier)
- Lake Shore Drive Apartments (1948-51) Chicago (Mies van der Rohe)
- The Graduate Center (1950) Harvard University (Gropius)
- Seagram Building (1954-58) New York (Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson)
- Inland Steel Building (1957) Chicago (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)
- Bio-Children's Convalescent Home (1960) Arnhem (Oud)
- Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower (1967-91) Toronto (Mies van der Rohe)
- Lake Point Tower (1968), Chicago (George Schipporeit and John Heinrich)
- John Hancock Center (1969) Chicago (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)                   
- IBM Building (1971) New York (Mies van der Rohe)
- Sears/Willis Tower (1974) Chicago (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)

The Bauhaus School Building (1925) at Dessau (Gropius)

Villa Savoye (1929-30) Poissy-sur-Seine (Le Corbusier)

References

Research:

The International Style Movement Overview and Analysis". [Internet]. 2017. TheArtStory.org
Content compiled and written by Peter Clericuzio. Edited and published by The Art Story Contributors. Available from:                              
http://www.theartstory.org/movement-international-style.htm [Accessed 30 April 2017]

Mandi Johnson. "Design Style 101: International Style"[Online]. 9 October 2015. A Beautiful Mess. Available from:                                                                                      http://abeautifulmess.com/2015/10/design-style-101-international-style.html [Accessed 30 April 2017]

"International Style of Modern Architecture"[Online]. Architecture Glossary
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART and DESIGN. Available from:                                                
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/international-style.htm [Accessed 30 April 2017]

"A Movement in a Moment: The International Style"[Online]. Phaidon. Available from: http://de.phaidon.com/agenda/architecture/articles/2016/june/30/a-movement-in-a-moment-the-international-style/ [Accessed 30 April 2017]

Images:

Mandi Johnson. "Design Style 101: International Style"[Online]. 9 October 2015. A Beautiful Mess. Available from:                                                                                                         http://abeautifulmess.com/2015/10/design-style-101-international-style.html [Accessed 30 April 2017]

"A Movement in a Moment: The International Style"[Online]. Phaidon. Available from: http://de.phaidon.com/agenda/architecture/articles/2016/june/30/a-movement-in-a-moment-the-international-style/ [Accessed 30 April 2017]

"Bio-Children's Convalescent Home, in Arnheim, Netherlands, was designed by J.J.P. Oud in 1952–60." Courtesy of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Department of Cultural Affairs, Washington, D.C.

The International Style Movement Overview and Analysis". [Internet]. 2017. TheArtStory.org. Content compiled and written by Peter Clericuzio. Edited and published by The Art Story Contributors. Available from:  
http://www.theartstory.org/movement-international-style.htm [Accessed 30 April 2017]