| |
The
Evolution of 20th Century Architecture: A Synoptic Account,
by Kenneth Frampton.
In this compact book by the most
well-known historian of 20th-century architecture, Kenneth
Frampton presents what he calls a genealogy rather than
a history on the evolution of architecture last century.
This genealogy is traced in four chapters: the Avante-Garde
and Continuity; the Vicissitudes of the Organic; Universal
Civilization and National Cultures; Production, Place and
Reality. Each chapter traces these general concepts on the
relationships of Modernism to tradition, place and technology,
without acting as a chronological regurgitation of "the
usual suspects" of architectural history in the period
from the late 19th century to the dawn of the new millennium.
Those familiar with Frampton's writings
and his critical take on history will not find anything
surprising in these pages. At a lecture in Spring 2007 Frampton
articulated many consistencies in his lifelong studies that
are reiterated here: a preference for the horizontal over
the vertical, a disdain for the "intuitive" designs
of Frank Gehry (a no-show here), and a reliance on construction
technology as the means for architectural expression and
meaning. What makes the book valuable is the condensing
of Frampton's ideas into a short (150 pages) and heavily
illustrated (primarily with drawings) book that is accessible,
without eschewing the intellectual depth and rigor of previous
books like Modern
Architecture: A Critical History and Studies
in Tectonic Culture.
What perhaps holds more value is
Frampton's presentation at the end of the book of projects
on an urban scale, like Roland Rainer's high-density housing
in Puchenau, Austria. These and a few other projects illustrate
that the focus on "the one-off object as the only viable
concern for architectural culture" is no longer tenable.
With environmental concerns placing an importance on context
and relationships, the urban scale becomes the contested
ground for architects to influence towards the better. While
Frampton ends the book on a less-than-optimistic note, his
faith in modern architecture is unwavering, as the larger
projects that he presents illustrate. One could conclude
from reading this book that the relationships between tradition,
place and technology of importance in the last century will
continue to be important factors as architects tackle the
problems of the 21st century.
or 
|
