Introduction
Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier contributed to the growth of architecture in America. Despite their differences in art styles, the architects significantly contributed to the buildings erected in America in the 1900s. The essay illustrates the two architects’ perceptions of architecture and gives an example of buildings created by the two. The differences in opinion about international style become clear between Wright and Le Corbusier; however, that does not limit its application in America.
Discussion
On the one hand, Frank Lloyd Wright’s technique involved working effortlessly by blending exterior and interior architectural designs using organic architecture. That entailed using the natural environment in Wright’s architecture by implementing the climate and most elements in his basic design principles (Wright et al., 2017). With this, the philosophy became the creation of humane and functional environments and focused on connecting a building’s appearance with the lives of the people inside it.
On the other hand, the technique established Le Corbusier’s philosophy of advocating the Pilotis, which were column grids that replaced load-bearing walls that allowed architects to create more floor space. With that came the idea of free-floor plans, which were flexible and adaptable living spaces that could change lifestyles due to the absence of load-bearing walls (Nicholson, 2018). Therefore, Le Corbusier’s technique and vocabulary were based on the form where most of his work was centered on the impact of architecture’s effectiveness on social landscapes.
Wright’s work is the “Prairie Houses,” which were characteristically known for their spacious interiors, overhanging eaves, repetitive yet simple geometric flourishes, and long window panels (Silzer, 2019). The houses were revolutionary at their time, portrayed the architect’s affinity for unfished materials and horizontal lines, and helped forge several architectural elements architects take for granted today. An example of Le Corbusier’s work is the Villa Savoye, Poissy, arguably his most well-known work. The building has sleek white living space geometry, elongated ribbon windows, and is supported by narrow column series around a curved glazed entrance (Nicholson, 2018). The building used reinforced concrete for fewer load-bearing internal walls, which allowed for an open-plan design.
The international architectural style refers to the design type that originated in Europe. Wright believed the international style was “cold, overly intellectualized ideologically, European, urban, and not necessarily comfortable, and maybe a bit alienating” (Wright et al., 2017). In international style, Le Corbusier said, “Space and light and order. Those are the things men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep” (Sequeira, 2018). Despite opinion differences, the style spread from Europe to America and became the central inclination in American architecture.
Conclusion
Wright and Le Corbusier’s opinion on international style differed; however, the differences did not refrain from their application in the U.S. Wright’s technique and philosophy was founded on organic architecture, while the technique established Le Corbusier’s work on the Pilotis. However, the common aspect of the two philosophies and styles is that both architects aimed to create buildings that impacted the lives of the people who used their structures.