Moderne Vs Modern architecture

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Moderne Vs Modern architecture
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 <Your Name> 2018

Architecture is not only an art but also a science which deals with the general
development of buildings and everything that pertain to their organization and maintenance.
Historically, architecture has evolved over the centuries with the evolution of technology,
advancements in the study of architecture as a subject assimilation and adoption of different
cultures (Langmead and Johnson, 2000). Observations on the styles, designs and trends are made
as one studies the history of architecture. There are numerous styles of architecture among them
modern and modern.
Moderne type of architecture is also known as Streamline Modern architecture or Art
Moderne. The style emerged in the 1930s after the great depression and is a type of art Deco
Architecture. This type of architecture has distinct characteristics such as a flattened roof or no
roof sometimes, lines in the wall or horizontal groves, rounded edges, smooth wall surfaces,
subdued colors, glass brick walls, windows at the corners, and a horizontal orientation among
others. generally, the buildings constructed using this style of art have polished and smooth
surfaces which put a great highlights on the horizontal sides and lines of the buildings. Majority
of the buildings built in this style are usually longer and not necessary taller and tend to be
asymmetrical. The style was also adopted in industries that manufacture other industrial and
home equipments and appliances. Of importance to also note is that buildings with this style
have less or no ornaments and decorations.
The designs of moderne architecture buildings have some resemblance with nautical
elements like ships. For instance, they both have rounded windows. Most commercial buildings
in 1930s began following this style of architecture and it quickly picked up. Most of the
buildings constructed by the application of this style were used by the public for entertainments,
as terminals in the airports and stations for public transport buses. Movie theatres were an
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 <Your Name> 2018

example of entertainment joints which applied this style of architecture. Globally, some of the
popular buildings which were constructed using this style include the Coca-cola bottling plant in
Los Angeles, the Normandie Hotel in San Juan and the Ford building in San Diego.
This style of architecture came with its set of advantages. Single colors were found
pleasing by those who had low tolerance to multiple colors especially in public buildings or who
are generally color- phobic. Some people and architects found the subdued colors elegant,
focusing the attention on the geometrical design. The use of less or no ornaments which was
typical of the style was preferred too by some people who were critical of buildings’ decorations
and who only preferred the basic structures.
The construction of buildings using this style of architecture had a relatively lower cost
compared to the modern architecture. This is because it did not make use of new construction
technology which would be expensive to acquire. The style was also convenient for constructing
public places which could hold large capacities. This is why majority of theatres and
entertainment joints were constructed using the design of streamline moderne. The style did not
require much expertise like the modern style. This was an advantage because it meant that
human resources such as engineers were easy to get. The engineers and architects did not need
specialized expertise since the style avoided a lot details. No new and advanced technology was
used and this in turn meant that advanced technical know-how was not used as well.
Despite the numerous advantages associated with streamline moderne architecture, the
style had numerous shortcomings. Firstly, their horizontally long characteristic meant that a big
space was needed for construction. This would also in turn lead to congestions in towns and
cities as they occupied larger spaces. This was a major setback for the developers who desired
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the style but had limited space. The style was unsuitable for small- land owners. Also for those
who had more preference for ornamented buildings, this style did not cater for their need as it
had less or no ornaments.
On the other hand is the Modern Architecture style which is also known as modernist
architecture. This style emerged due to advancements in technology and new innovations in
constructions. The main and notable innovations which inspired this style were in steel, concrete
that is reinforced and the use of glass. The style began in the 20th century and survived through
the World War II until the 1980s. The new inventions in the building industry and engineering
made it possible to build taller and stronger buildings which began to be highly desired.
Windows which were larger in size compared to those previously existing could now be
manufactured due to an improved technology in glass which in this case was cast plate glass.
Skyscrapers such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Flatiron building and the Prudential building in
New York, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago and the neo -Gothic crown of the
Woolworth Building are some of the modernist buildings which made use of the style.
Some advantages of this type of architecture included ability to construct tall buildings
which were stronger and lighter. This was made possible by the new innovations in construction
and engineering. Skyscrapers which were not only landmarks but also sites of attraction such as
the Eiffel Tower in Paris were possible to construct. The style also made an efficient utilization
of land resources. With the availability of even small pieces of land, architects could construct
numerous- storied buildings to still meet the desired capacity of the buildings. The ornamented
buildings displayed beauty which was considered pleasing by most people. This was also the
case in their use of mixed colors which added to their beauty as well. This design gave
developers the freedom to incorporate their color tastes and preferences in their buildings.
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 <Your Name> 2018