Alfred Farwell Bemis was an American architect and educator best known for pioneering work in developing modular systems to standardize building elements. Ernst Neufert was a German architect and educator best known for his work on architectural standardization. This essay analyses the theories suggested by the two architects, the response of Alvar Aalto and Le Corbusier to them, and propose architectural changes told.
In the early 1900s, Bemis began experimenting with using standardized modules to produce prefabricated building components, which he believed would significantly improve the efficiency and quality of construction. Bemis’s modular system used a 4-foot square grid, with each square representing one square foot of floor space (Vossoughian 203). This system allowed for the standardization of dimensions for doors, windows, and other building elements and the easy assembly of prefabricated components. Bemis’s work was instrumental in developing the modern modular building industry.
In the 1930s, Neufert began developing his modular coordination system using a 3-meter square grid (Birdwell). This system became the basis for the International System of Units (SI), which is still in use today. Neufert’s work was particularly influential in hospital design, where clean, efficient, and easily-navigable spaces are paramount. The result of Alfred Farwell Bemis and Ernst Neufert was instrumental in the development of modern modular building techniques and the standardization of architectural elements.
Aalto believed that the standardized dimensions of building components did not allow for the necessary flexibility to create truly individualized spaces. Instead, Aalto advocated for the use of “organic” forms, which he believed would be more expressive and better suited to the needs of the people using the space (Vossoughian 206). On the other hand, Corbusier believed using standard modules led to a loss of individuality and creativity in architecture. Instead, he advocated for the use of “modular coordination,” which would allow for more flexibility and creativity in the design of buildings (Vossoughian 210). Alvar Aalto and Le Corbusier proposed that architects should be free to design buildings however they saw fit without being restricted by the standard because the standardization of building elements would only lead to cookie-cutter architecture.
In conclusion, Bemis and Neufert pioneered using modular systems to standardize building elements. Their theory was that standardizing building elements would be easier and quicker to construct buildings. Alvar Aalto and Le Corbusier were both proponents of standardization, believing it would lead to faster and more efficient construction. However, they also thought standardization should be flexible to adapt to the specific needs of each project.
Work Cited
Vossoughian, Nader. “Alvar Aalto, Ernst Neufert, and Architectural Standardization in Germany and Finland, 1933–45.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, vol. 79, no. 2, 2020, pp. 202–212. Web.