Quiz+2

Quiz 2:

Architecture it’s one of the many manifestation of the creative capacity of the human being and just like art and technology architecture evolved. The evidence that proof this fact can be seen in the beginning of the 20th century with the appearance of modern architecture.  This movement emerged in Germany in the late 1920 and spread trough all Europe and part of the United States. The main characteristics of this movement is that the materials and functionality determinates the result, the machine aesthetic, the emphasis of horizontal, the vertical lines, the simplification of form and elimination of "unnecessary detail".  Based on this guidelines modern architecture start being more functional and simple, leaving behind ornaments and conventional structural systems. However, in Spain specifically in Valencia where this movement did not have the same characteristic that had in the rest of Europe.

 In Valencia and Barcelona modern architecture had a different and interesting development where ornament played an important role. Residential and governmental buildings constructed in the late 19th century represent great creativeness e ingenious designs, where it can be seen the influence gothic, baroque, and mudejar, particularly in the complexity and richness of the ornaments. This building represents a very clear assembling, where there is a basement, a middle body and a cornice as the final touch. Between the buildings that represents this design patterns is The North Railroad Station, the Apartment Building 7 adn 8, the Xapa house and some others.

However is clear that the maximum of Catalan modernism was the architect Antoni Gaudí, his bold designs filled with dramatism that enriched and revolutionized the aspect of the city. Between the designs of this architect we find a beautiful use of ornament like sculptures, stained glass and mosaics in his facades, roofs, stair, etc. Some of his works are the Millá House, the Batlló house, the Guell park and La Sagrada Familia church.

Even though many typical elements of gothic and mudejar architecture can be read in his designs, also we can find modernist elements specially the type of structure and how It is used. In the Batlló house the structure is arcaded and separated of the facade. The color plays an important role in Gaudi’s designs, this is because great part of his inspiration is nature, full with organic shapes an color. Catalan modern architecture still not met many basics principles of European modernism; represent a great revolution in the world of architecture. Full of details and symbolism, this movement hypnotizes us with their bold designs even in this day. No doubt architects like Emilio Ferrer, Joaquín Miramón, Alejandro Solar y March and specially Antoni Gaudi they knew innovate and evolved with their designs trough reinterpretation of typical architectural movements before them.



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