Rationalism in architecture and its features

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Rationalism is not as well-known direction in architecture as constructivism, but no less interesting. This style appeared in the twentieth century due to the development and emergence of new technologies. Sometimes this direction is also called "modern architecture". Representatives of this style paid much attention to the psychological perception of a person. Rationalism in architecture is the unity of form, design and function.

Short description

This direction is distinguished by strictness and simplicity of forms. Rationalism in architecture is distinguished by the fact that it has one feature - functionality. The heyday of this style falls on the 20-50s of the twentieth century. The main patterns used by rationalism in architecture are geometric shapes: straight lines, squares, rectangles.

Masters also experimented with proportions and color. Architects sought to ensure that their ideas were in line with the aesthetics of the period. Their main idea is that architecture should meet the modern needs of society, and not just repeat the ideas of past eras. The new direction should be simple, concise and understandable to people.

Also an interesting feature of rationalism in the architecture of the 20th century is that for the masters it was a tool for restructuring society, a "new" person who would be free from the ideas of past centuries. In addition to experimenting with proportions and color, they used asymmetry and materials such as iron and concrete. All this added functionality to this direction.

The architect, according to rationalists, acted not as an artist-decorator, but as a constructor. Buildings were designed to be practical, but also expressive. The masters of this direction believed that the aesthetic component would only matter when it performs a practical function. Therefore, the buildings were not only expressive, but also functional.

Development of style in Holland

The founder of the rationalist architectural trend in Holland was Hendrik Petrus Berlage in the 19th-20th centuries. It was his work that had a great influence on the formation of this style in other countries. The main ideas of Hendrik Berlage are working with even surfaces and the use of natural stone, unplastered brick walls.

An example of rationalism in Dutch architecture is the building of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Its appearance harmoniously combines rigid structures with elements characteristic of the traditional Dutch style. Berlage was engaged in the reconstruction of the "poor" areas of Amsterdam. And in many citiesHolland appeared simple but beautiful buildings.

Development of style in Italy

In Italy, rationalism appeared thanks to the German school of architecture "Bauhaus". Italian architectures have created two communities - "Group 7" and MIAR. The most famous master from the creative association "Group 7" was Giuseppe Terragni, who created a beautiful building in the style of rationalism in 1936 - the People's House in Como.

The head of MIAR, Adalberto Libera, became famous thanks to the Palace of Congresses, which is located in the Roman suburbs. It was built in 1954 and consists of a spacious congress hall, a terrace with hanging gardens and an open-air theater. The main feature of the style of rationalism in Italy is its social orientation. The Italian craftsmen sought to create a new environment and a person who would be ready to work together.

Development of style in the USSR

This direction is not as popular as constructivism, but buildings in this style are no less interesting, and talented craftsmen worked in it. Rationalism in the architecture of the USSR corresponded to the ideas and principles of Soviet society. But at the same time, unlike the representatives of constructivism, rationalists were not so categorically disposed to past developments in the field of architecture.

All representatives of this movement studied the basics of the classical style and were not limited to the functional component. It was also very important to take into account how a person perceives architecture. The leader of this movement was N. A. Ladovsky, who organized Obmas (United Workshops).

Obmas' activities were short-lived, but it was there that the first steps were taken to create a new architectural school. There, architects were trained at a different level and a new discipline was introduced - "Space". N. A. Ladovsky believed that an architect should think in three dimensions. This is how the layout method was created, which allowed to show imagination in work and create interesting artistic techniques.

"ASNOVA" - creative organization of rationalists

In 1923, associates of N. A. Ladovsky created the association "ASNOVA" - the Association of New Architects. Famous artists were members of this organization in different periods. The members of "ASNOVA" wanted to create a printed publication, but this did not work out. Therefore, articles were published in the Construction of Moscow magazine and other thematic publications.

Rationalists did not take part in various competitions, so the constructivists took the lead. From 1923 to 1926 there was a controversy between the association of rationalists and constructivists. Rationalists believed that constructivists were too limited and paid too much attention to the functional component.

In 1928, ASNOVA split due to disagreements between Ladovsky and his more radical colleague, V. Balikhin. Also, N. A. Ladovsky created the Association of Urban Architects.

Residential complex on Shabolovka

This is a famous example of Soviet rationalism in architecture. In 1927, the development of this building was entrusted to architects from ASNOVA. They needed to create an apartment complex that met the following requirements:

• compact;
• cheap;
• expression.

A small area was allocated for construction in the Shabolovka area. The group of N. Travin won this competition. The architects were going to build 24 buildings, consisting of 5 and 6 floors. The complex also included a kindergarten and a boiler room. The architects wanted to build the hulls so that they could use the maximum amount of light.

To implement this idea, small semi-isolated courtyards were built that surround the southern facades with balconies - it is on this side that the windows of the main living rooms open. But on the north side of the house - rooms for the kitchen and bathroom. Much attention was paid to the interior design. The architects created the feeling that the yards smoothly "flow" into each other. This adds the effect of the most light and open space.

Flying cities

In 1928, one of Ladovsky's best students, Georgy Krutikov, presented his thesis, which became a sensation in architecture. It was the idea to create a "flying city". The architect proposed to leave the land for tourism, recreation and work, and the residents themselves would move to the flying commune cities.

Message between "air" and"ground" buildings should have been carried out using a multifunctional cabin. Aeronautics was well developed in the USSR, so it is not surprising that Krutikov was fond of astronautics and believed that urban architecture would be connected with the air theme.

Some have embraced this Flying Cities idea with enthusiasm and thought it was a new word in science. Others were rather skeptical. But this idea emphasizes that rationalism is connected with the development of technology and science.

The decline of style

In the early 1930s, the USSR was no longer so creative, and artists had less room to realize their potential. Society began to need not new forms, but the ex altation of the Leader and the achievements of the Soviet people. Neither rationalism nor constructivism could realize these demands. Therefore, neoclassicism became the leading trend in Soviet architecture.

Rationalists were told that they supported bourgeois ideas in architecture, that their projects were too formal. But the constructivists were criticized less because they paid more attention to functionality than to experiments with form and color. Also, the Soviet authorities did not like the fact that they were addicted to psychoanalysis, which was not recognized in the USSR. And in that era, the decline of rationalism and functionalism in architecture began.

Rehabilitation of this area

Until the 1950s, this style was nowhere to be foundmentioned. The representatives of rationalism were called "formalist pests", or they were not talked about at all. But by the end of the 50s, people began to have a different attitude towards the architectural heritage of the 1920s. Many of the ideas of the architects of this direction were used by the masters of the thaw period.

Rationalism in architecture - a style not so popular, but no less interesting, with original ideas that corresponded to the needs of the society of that period. Architects working in this style took into account the achievements of science and technology. And some masters came up with interesting cutting-edge ideas.

At the same time, the rationalists did not completely abandon the study of other styles, as the constructivists did. That is why they were criticized more, because their thinking was more expansive and not so limited. The peculiarity of rationalism in architecture is also that in their work they used psychoanalysis in their work, which makes this direction even more interesting.