Contemporary
architecture is a general term for modern architecture that features some
aspects of traditional architecture, but is also unique and has a fresh
appearance. Modern architecture evolved after the turn of the 20th century and
now has a variety of styles, designs and uses. However, it is not a simple
matter of copying classical structures, because in many cases, they have
changed completely.
The concept of
contemporary architecture was first introduced in architecture magazines and is
often considered a relatively modern form of design. It is based on the concept
of the modernist style, as developed by the American architect Le Corbusier,
who was a student of French art at the University of Paris, before becoming an
architect in his own right. Contemporary architecture is a hybrid form of
architecture and combines many elements of classic and traditional
architecture, as well as the innovations of modernism. No single style
dominates; many architects are working in a range of styles, ranging from very
high tech and highly abstract forms and abstract expressions to highly
expressive and highly sculptural styles, like sculpture on an extremely large
scale.
The contemporary
architecture does not follow strict rules. Some buildings have an individual look,
while others have the common features of a modernist structure. Many buildings
have their own distinctive personality and unique design, while others have
some of the basic aspects of all buildings. Some buildings have more than one
use, but are all linked together with some form of internal or external flow or
circulation.
While it is difficult
to define all the modern architectural styles, some of them are clearly defined
and can be identified easily. These include the modernist, minimalist and
eclectic styles. Each of these styles had its own distinctive characteristics,
including the use of unusual materials, such as copper, iron, glass and steel,
to create a unique form. Modern architecture has a very flexible and open feel,
with plenty of horizontal space, but without the rigid lines of earlier
architecture.
Some modern buildings
are very highly abstract in nature and are very abstract in form. Examples of
this include the Guggenheim Museum, which is an example of contemporary
architecture, designed by Le Corbusier in 1930. and has no conventional
straight lines, and very simple geometric patterns. In contrast, the Museum of
Modern Art in New York City, a work of modern architecture by Frank Lloyd
Wright, is very structured and consists of many curves, whereas the Museum of
Modern Art, Chicago, founded in 1917, is characterized by a geometric shape.
The Museum of Modern
Art in New York City is another good example, which show a lot of geometric
forms, and geometric shapes, like the roof, and also has a central structure,
but with many curved planes, as well as many large and small rectangular
windows. A more formal example would be the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
where the main room is shaped like a sphere, and has many tall pillars and
columns.
