Cultural Transformations Of Modern Architecture

What makes modern architecture? Before answering this, one would need to understand what the term “modern” exactly describes. In architecture, modernism is the movement or transition from one period to another, and it is caused by cultural, territorial, and technological changes happening in the world. In Kenneth Frampton’s Modern Architecture: A Critical History, he details these three major societal changes that impact and create modern architecture.

Cultural Transformations: Society’s Impact on Architecture

In chapter one of Frampton’s writing, “Cultural Transformations,” he describes how changes in society create new architectural styles due to new cultural needs. Frampton starts by explaining the relationship between man and nature in different architectural styles. Man and nature were distinct entities; however, for the sake or ornamentation in architecture, the two were constantly combined. This idea soon changes with Baroque architecture where man and nature started to be distinctly separate, and this later leads to the Neoclassical style which shows an increased desire for man to have control over nature (Frampton 1). Neoclassicism essentially stems from a new cultural formation that grew from the life styles of declining aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie, and this transition leads

This idea led to two different types of neoclassicism: Structural and Romantic. Structural Classicism included buildings like prisons, hospitals, and railway stations. Those who followed this style believed that “the essence of architecture is construction. All stylistic transformations are merely the logical consequence of technical development.” In contrast, Romantic Classicism included museums and libraries. The style focused more on the landscape, symmetry, and balance (Frampton