9.3 Case studies of significant Modern buildings in the Americas

Modernism in the Americas brought forth iconic buildings that redefined architecture. From Wright's Fallingwater to Bo Bardi's Glass House, these structures harmonized with nature, pushing boundaries of design and materials. They embodied the era's spirit of innovation and experimentation.

Public buildings like the Guggenheim Museum and TWA Flight Center showcased expressive forms, while institutional structures like Yale's Art and Architecture Building embraced Brutalism. Skyscrapers and museums, such as the Seagram Building and MASP, further exemplified Modernism's influence across the continent.

Iconic Residences

Harmonizing Architecture with Nature

Top images from around the web for Harmonizing Architecture with Nature

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 14.JPG - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 3.JPG - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fallingwater House - Frank Lloyd Wright (1937) | Pablo Sanchez Martin | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 14.JPG - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 3.JPG - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Harmonizing Architecture with Nature

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 14.JPG - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 3.JPG - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fallingwater House - Frank Lloyd Wright (1937) | Pablo Sanchez Martin | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 14.JPG - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater exterior 3.JPG - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Fallingwater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in Pennsylvania, USA
  • Cantilevered terraces extend over a waterfall, integrating the house with its natural surroundings
  • Exemplifies Wright's organic architecture principles, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces
  • Constructed using local materials (sandstone) to further blend with the landscape
• Casa de Vidro (Glass House) designed by Lina Bo Bardi in 1951 in São Paulo, Brazil
  • Elevated on slender pilotis, allowing the natural terrain to flow beneath the house
  • Extensive use of glass walls creates a transparent living space that merges with the surrounding rainforest
  • Incorporates a tree that grows through the terrace, showcasing the architect's respect for nature

Minimalist Expressions of Modernism

• Farnsworth House designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951 in Illinois, USA
  • Single-story, minimalist steel and glass structure elevated above the ground
  • Open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling glass walls create a sense of spatial continuity and transparency
  • Epitomizes Mies' "less is more" philosophy, focusing on simplicity, clarity, and the essential elements of architecture
• Casa Barragán designed by Luis Barragán in 1948 in Mexico City, Mexico
  • Showcases Barragán's distinctive use of color, light, and geometric forms
  • Incorporates a series of interconnected, minimalist spaces that create a sense of serenity and contemplation
  • Features a rooftop terrace with abstract, brightly colored walls that frame views of the surrounding landscape

Influential Public Buildings

Expressive Architectural Forms

• Guggenheim Museum (New York) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959 in New York City, USA
  • Iconic spiral form creates a continuous, ascending gallery space
  • Inverted ziggurat shape challenges traditional museum design and creates a dynamic visitor experience
  • Exterior clad in white, sculptural concrete bands that emphasize the building's organic form
• TWA Flight Center designed by Eero Saarinen in 1962 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA
  • Expressive, wing-like concrete shell structure that symbolizes the excitement of air travel
  • Interior features curving, organic forms and innovative use of materials (reinforced concrete) to create a futuristic atmosphere
  • Represents the optimism and technological advancements of the mid-20th century

Modernist Institutional Architecture

• Yale Art and Architecture Building designed by Paul Rudolph in 1963 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA
  • Brutalist style featuring exposed concrete and complex, interlocking interior spaces
  • Incorporates a variety of textures and finishes, from rough, bush-hammered concrete to smooth, polished surfaces
  • Designed to encourage interaction and collaboration among art and architecture students
• National Congress of Brazil designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1960 in Brasília, Brazil
  • Monumental modernist complex featuring two contrasting structures: a low-lying, horizontal building for the Senate and a tall, vertical tower for the Chamber of Deputies
  • Iconic twin towers connected by a walkway, symbolizing the unity and balance of power in the Brazilian government
  • Surrounded by a vast, open plaza that emphasizes the grandeur and significance of the building

Modernist Skyscrapers and Museums

Elegant Corporate Modernism

• Seagram Building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1958 in New York City, USA
  • 38-story, bronze-and-glass curtain wall skyscraper that exemplifies Mies' modernist principles
  • Features a set-back ground floor and open plaza, creating a welcoming public space at the base of the building
  • Precise, grid-like facade and high-quality materials (bronze, travertine) convey a sense of refinement and timelessness
  • Influential in defining the modern office tower and setting a new standard for corporate architecture

Innovative Museum Design

• MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art) designed by Lina Bo Bardi in 1968 in São Paulo, Brazil
  • Distinctive, suspended rectangular volume supported by four massive red concrete piers
  • Open, flexible interior space with a unique display system featuring glass easels, allowing artwork to be viewed from multiple angles
  • Transparent facade and elevated design create a sense of lightness and invite public engagement
  • Plaza beneath the building serves as a gathering space and cultural hub for the city