Was Modernism an inevitable evolution or a political imposition?
In short: For decades, historians viewed modern architecture as the logical conclusion of human progress. But was it truly the natural next step in design, or did the collective trauma of two World Wars force a radical break from tradition that the public simply wasn't ready to embrace?
The shift toward Modernism in post-war England represented a fundamental pivot in how beauty is defined. Before the 20th century, particularly during the Victorian era, architects largely championed 'extrinsic beauty.' This meant that aesthetic value was derived from external associations—plundering various historical styles to decorate utilitarian structures like railway stations. In this view, beauty was something added to a building's surface.
Modernists rejected this in favor of 'intrinsic beauty,' arguing that a building's form should be dictated solely by its function and structure. This transition marked the move from architecture as art to the 'architecture of service.' By removing style entirely, Modernism sought to solve the dilemma of aesthetic choice by making form an inherent property of the building itself. It was presented not merely as a new look, but as a final solution to the evolution of design.
However, this transition was deeply influenced by the political climate following the Second World War. The conflict had 'collectivised' English society, bringing national life under state control to a degree unseen in previous eras. Supported by politicians, architects moved decisively away from tradition to create a new language for a rapidly changing world. While intellectuals and historians like Nicholas Pevsner and John Summerson once framed this as an inevitable result of progress, the public's enduring dislike of these structures suggests a profound tension between state-led modernization and popular sentiment.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Coming to Terms with Modern Times: English architecture in the post-war era - Simon Thurley
- Also: Coming to Terms with Modern Times: English architecture in the post-war era
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