Unit Summary: Reflections

Gare de l'Est- Paris

Reflections are all about looking back and trying to mirror something, or create a similar image of it. However, in architecture, a design reflects only parts, rather than a whole. In the reflections unit, architects look back in history and take favorable parts of architecture from those time periods, and then these architects use this knowledge to create a new.  This idea of reflection ultimately leads to innovation. Though these two concepts seemed opposite before this unit, we have learned how reflection has encouraged creation of a new architecture.

            The reflections unit begins with an architecture parlent. This type of architecture has its own language. Right out of the French Enlightenment, architects such as Palladio and Ledoux take the rules from the Baroque and Roccoco eras, and revise them. The two languages resulting from this revision is a language by architecture through the ancient world and the Renaissance. These two time periods provide a great amount of precedents for building during the beginning of the 18^th century. Connections to these time periods are evident in buildings such as the Place de Vosges and the French Pantheon. Reflections of the ancient world and Renaissance can also be seen overseas in America, which was, at the time, under English rule. Many American buildings, such as Drayton Hall and the Carters Grove Plantation, were inspired by English architecture, which often looked back to Rome. This desire to mimic English style ended with the rise of the American Revolution.

            Revolution was a turning point in architecture. In the late 18^th century, there were many revolutions going on, such as the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the Information Revolution, etc. These revolutions called for a combination of reform and revival. After gaining independence, America decided to stick to a Grecian Revival. Why? They wanted to rebel against England and have an independent architecture to match their independent state of mind. Coexistent with the American Revolution was the Industrial Revolution. New technologies were being innovated, and old technologies were improving to become more advanced. Two major materials that were introduced during the Industrial Revolution are glass and iron. These two materials created multiple possibilities for architecture. Iron made possible the expansion of roofs over large spaces, as seen at the Gare du l’est in Paris and Joseph Paxton’s crystal palace in London. Glass also provided the ability to create structures that provided a space inside where the walls and ceiling seemed to disappear, as seen in the Royal Conservatory at Kew Gardens in London. As the popularity of these materials grew, so did the use of machinery and the desire to create new buildings.

            The introduction of the machine into design was appealing to some, but others were set on the tradition and beauty of handcraft. The Arts and Crafts Movement raised the question, “should the machine be used in architecture?” William Morris was a strong believer of honest workmanship throughout the interior. He said “turn our artists into craftsmen and our craftsmen into artists” (Massey, 12), believing that “there should be an obvious artistic presence in an interior” (23). Warren Ashbee, however, supported the machine: “we do not reject the machine, we welcome it, but we desire to see it mastered”. This debate brought much contemplation of what methods were appropriate. The machine was used more in Art Deco, which initiated the beginning of the 19^th century.

            During the 19^th century, there were many changes occurring. These changes involved material and scientific developments, social changes, technological improvements, and changes in the interior. The increase of the population in major cities of America called for more building spaces. Taking advantage of the availability of iron, glass and concrete, architects decided to change their goals entirely and begin to build higher. These new building technologies made possible to construction of bridges, towers and palaces. Louis Sullivan is an architect who is well-known for his skyscrapers in both Chicago and New York. These skyscrapers often provided space for business corporations and offices. However, skyscrapers were not the only advances in architecture. While Sullivan focused on skycrapers, Frank Lloyd Wright was designing residencies.  Moving away from the idea of revival in the Arts and Crafts movement, Wright decided to rely on nature for inspiration. He also introduces a new importance to the concept of horizontal line. Through horizontal lines, Wright was able to invent a way of subdivision without using interior walls. This idea opened up horizons for many other architects, not only in residential design, but also in commercial.

            All of these styles used reflection as a basis for their architecture. However, as architecture reached the middle of the 19^th century, it was reaching toward a new era. Through the availability of materials, and the introduction of the machine, architects were coming up with new ideas for future designs. Societal changes also had a huge impact, as populations were growing and transportation was progressing. These changes lead to the explorations unit, where different possibilities will be explored in hope of reaching new heights in architecture.