ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20921, 31 July 1933, Page 8

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY.

NEW CHAPTER IN THE | MAKING. SIMPLICITY, LOGIC AND STRENGTH. "Just as we find changing periods J in painting, in sculpture, and in J music, so we find changes in archi- j tecture and all classic and other j traditional styles are being swept aside, the whole art of buildinc is being revolutionised, and a nsv» chapter of architectural history i& in the making." It, was with these words that Mr V. R. J. Hcan, assistant city architect, addressing the Society for Imperial Culture on Saturday evening, emphasised the meaning of "modernism" in architecture. He described modern architecture and the many ways in which it is changing as time goes on. "There is a tendency when the word 'modern' is mentioned," Mr Hean said, "to imagine that it is simply a style of queer, crazy cubes or of futuristic foolishness and distorted ideas. This is not so. The term 'modern' does not mean a futurist style. Architecture is always changing—it is always in a state of evolution. At times the processes are slowed up by the presence of a group of highly gifted individuals who stabilise design and style for a while. It is then we have such periods as the height of Athens and Rome. Architecture changes, because social and economic conditions change, because people think differently from their grandfathers, and principally because life becomes more complex with the passage of time. _ In consequence, the requirements of modern times are reflected in the programmes of modern architecture." - Plans Based on Logic. Modern architecture came as an investigation of the problems of the century, Mr Hean said —a realisation that the concrete buildings were being dressed up in traditional styles, that the buildings did not express the honesty of their structural systems. We saw now in present-day architecture the rising power of steel buildings that a few years back were beyond all imagination. Simplicity was the keynote of the present age, and buildings were far less ornate and extravagant than those of yesterday. Architecture could not remain the same traditional style of old. It must be an expression of the age. People for centuries had put up with wasteful planning, inadequate lighting, ventilation, and heating, and with the idea that they must not interfere with the grand rhythm of architectural composition. With the coming of the modern architect we found that every plan was based on logic, and every possible scheme analysed before the final selection was made. Every major and minor point was studied in detail, and more consideration given to the habits and daily routine of the owner. Mr Hean reviewed the structural system in architecture leading up to the achievements of the present day. Now, for the first time in history, he said, the architects had a wonderful freedom. Reinforced concrete had given us unlimited scope for designs, as it had the properties of being a mass material, of being monolithic, of being easilv moulded and embossed into shape. The influence of to-day's demands upon architecture was very extensive, for there were many entirely new purposes—airports, for instance—for which buildings were required. Continental Influence. "Germany affords a striking contrast in styles, and one sees the modern spirit carried into simplicity and logic to a far greater degree. Economy during the last 10 years has been a dominating factor. We find extremists in this land who are striving to express the machine age upon their buildings. The modern brick work is treated severely and possesses little charm compared with the Dutch, which has brilliant colour schemes. Austria, with Germany, is a country striving to break away from the traditional styles, and modern examples are in evidence. In Finland the modern work has somewhat of an Oriental influence, and is again different from the other countries of the Continent. "France is now in the throes of modernism, although she is behind all the countries previously mentioned in the expression of a new age. Each Continental country is developing the modem style, each with its national characteristics, each influenced by its traditional style, materials at hand, and the temperament of its people."