10.2 Team 10 and the critique of CIAM

Team 10 shook up modernist architecture in the 1950s. They challenged CIAM's rigid ideas, pushing for designs that prioritized human needs and social interaction. Their critique sparked a shift towards more humanistic approaches in architecture.

The Doorn Manifesto outlined Team 10's vision for urban planning. It emphasized creating spaces that foster community, moving away from CIAM's strict separation of functions. This paved the way for new movements like Structuralism and Postmodernism.

Team 10 and CIAM Critique

Formation and Key Members of Team 10

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  Alison and Peter Smithsons’ Upper Lawn Pavilion (also known as the “Solar pavilion”), 1959-1962 ... View original

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  Модерна архитектура — Википедија View original

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  Alison and Peter Smithsons’ Upper Lawn Pavilion (also known as the “Solar pavilion”), 1959-1962 ... View original

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  Модерна архитектура — Википедија View original

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  Alison and Peter Smithsons’ Upper Lawn Pavilion (also known as the “Solar pavilion”), 1959-1962 ... View original

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  Human Structures and Architectural Archetypes: Aldo Van Eyck’s… – SOCKS View original

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  Модерна архитектура — Википедија View original

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  Alison and Peter Smithsons’ Upper Lawn Pavilion (also known as the “Solar pavilion”), 1959-1962 ... View original

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• Team 10 formed in 1953 as a group of younger architects who challenged the prevailing ideas of CIAM (Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne)
• Key members included Alison and Peter Smithson (British architects known for their New Brutalist style), Aldo van Eyck (Dutch architect who emphasized the importance of place and human experience), and Jacob Bakema (Dutch architect who advocated for a more organic approach to urban planning)
• Other notable members were Georges Candilis, Shadrach Woods, and Giancarlo De Carlo, who contributed to the group's critique of modernist urban planning principles
• Team 10 sought to move beyond the rigid functionalism of CIAM and explore new ways of designing cities that prioritized human needs and social interaction

Critique of CIAM and the Doorn Manifesto

• CIAM, founded in 1928, promoted the principles of modernist architecture and urban planning, emphasizing functional zoning, standardization, and the separation of land uses
• Team 10 criticized CIAM's approach as being too abstract, inflexible, and disconnected from the realities of human life and social interaction
• In 1954, Team 10 members met in Doorn, Netherlands, and produced the Doorn Manifesto, which outlined their alternative vision for urban planning and architecture
• The manifesto emphasized the importance of creating spaces that foster social interaction, human scale, and a sense of community, rather than the strict separation of functions advocated by CIAM
• Team 10's critique of CIAM helped to shift the focus of modernist architecture towards a more humanistic and context-sensitive approach, paving the way for new movements such as Structuralism and Postmodernism

Structuralism and Mat-building

Structuralism in Architecture

• Structuralism in architecture emerged in the 1960s as a response to the perceived limitations of modernist architecture and urban planning
• Influenced by the work of anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, architectural structuralism sought to understand the underlying patterns and relationships that shape human societies and the built environment
• Structuralist architects believed that buildings should be designed as flexible, adaptable systems that can accommodate changing human needs and social structures over time
• Key proponents of structuralism in architecture included Aldo van Eyck, Herman Hertzberger (known for his design of schools and other public buildings), and Piet Blom (designer of the iconic Cube Houses in Rotterdam)

Mat-building and Urban Clusters

• Mat-building is an architectural concept that emerged from the structuralist movement, emphasizing the creation of dense, interconnected urban fabrics that can grow and change over time
• Introduced by Alison Smithson in 1974, mat-building involves the design of low-rise, high-density buildings that are organized around a network of pedestrian paths, courtyards, and public spaces
• Mat-buildings are often designed as modular systems that can be easily expanded or reconfigured to accommodate changing needs and uses
• Urban clusters, a related concept, involve the grouping of buildings and public spaces around shared courtyards or pedestrian streets, creating a sense of community and social interaction
• Examples of mat-building and urban clusters include the Free University of Berlin by Candilis, Josic, and Woods (1963-1979) and the Amsterdam Orphanage by Aldo van Eyck (1960)

Human-centered Design Principles

Designing for Human Scale and Experience

• A central tenet of Team 10 and structuralist architecture was the importance of designing buildings and cities that respond to human scale and experience
• Human scale refers to the proportions and dimensions of buildings and spaces that are comfortable and relatable to the human body and senses
• Architects like Aldo van Eyck and Herman Hertzberger emphasized the need for buildings to provide a sense of shelter, enclosure, and intimacy, while also allowing for social interaction and community building
• Van Eyck's Amsterdam Orphanage (1960) is a prime example of human-centered design, with its complex arrangement of interconnected spaces, courtyards, and play areas that foster a sense of belonging and discovery for the children who live there
• Other key principles of human-centered design include the use of natural materials, the incorporation of nature and greenery, and the creation of spaces that are flexible and adaptable to changing human needs over time
• By prioritizing human experience and well-being, the architects of Team 10 and the structuralist movement helped to shift the focus of modernist architecture towards a more empathetic and socially responsible approach to design