This document discusses the history and evolution of Expressionist architecture. It describes how Expressionism began as an artistic movement in Germany in the early 20th century focused on subjective experience over physical reality. Expressionist architecture emerged around 1910 and was characterized by distorted forms to evoke emotion, experimentation, and seeing architecture as a work of art. Notable Expressionist architects included Bruno Taut, whose works were inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche, and Erich Mendelsohn, who built the distinctive Einstein Tower in 1919. Though declining under Hitler, Expressionism continues to influence contemporary architecture through styles like Brutalism, Organic architecture, and the works of architects like Santiago Calatrava.

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EXPRESSIONISM
MODERNISM
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
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EVOLUTION OF EXPRESSIONISM VIA GERMANY
EXPRESSIONISM

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EXPRESSIONIST MOVEMENT-INTRODUCTION
 Present the world solely from
subjective perspective
 Artists sought to express emotional
experience rather than physical reality
 Characterized reaction against
Positivism, Naturalism and
Impressionism
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5. EVOLUTION
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 Julien Auguste Herve called his Art
Exhibition as EXPRESSIONISMES in
1886 while Czech Art historian
Antonin Matejcek coined the term in
1910
 Precursors were Friedrich Nietzsche,
August Stindberg, Walt Whitman,
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Edvard Munch,
Vincent Van Gogh, Sigmund Freud….
 Die Brucke led by Ernst Ludwig
Kirchev in 1905- founding
expressionist movement
Van Gogh
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Characteristics in ART
 Subjective interpretation, to express
emotions, moods and ideas
 a form of ‘self-expression’ that offer an
individual voice in a world perceive as
both insecure and hostile.
 Use of intense colours
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EXPRESSIONIST ARCHITECTURE-Intro - Context
 Expressionist architecture described the activity of the German, Dutch,
Austrian, Czech and Danish avant garde from 1910 until 1930
 Political, economic and artistic shifts called Expressionist movement
especially due to loss in war and depressions
 Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau influenced expressionists
 Constructivism, Futurism and Dada movement had similar expressions
Monument to the March Dead
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ARCHITECTURE CHARACTERS
 Distorted form for emotional
effect, subordination of realism
 Efforts to achieve innovation
 More mineral and elemental
than organic and florid
 Artistic and craftmanship
 Architecture as a work of artprime concept
 Profusion of works on paper,
representation of concepts
rather than pragmatic
products.
 Tendencies towards Gothic,
Romanesque and Rococo
styles.
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ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURE
 Ar. Bruno Taut inspired from
the writings of Friedrich
Nietzsche that resulted Taut’s
Alpine Architecture
“Objects serve psychologically to
mirror the actors' emotions
and gestures."
Erich Mendelshon built Einstein
Tower built to symbolize greatness
of Einstienian concept - 1919
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MATERIAL AND TECHNOLOGY
Brick was used
as inherent nature
of material as
Josef Franke in
 Unify the materials so as to
make it monolithic.
 Collaboration of Bruno Taut
and poet Paul Scheebart
inventing Glass Architecture
Catholic parish
church "HeiligKreuz" at
Gelsenkirchen,
"Coloured glass destroys
hatred","Without a glass
palace life is a
burden","Glass brings us a
new era, building in brick
only does us harm"- Paul
Scheerbart
Einstein Tower,
Mendelshon –
Example of
Expressionist use of
Monolithic materials.
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LEGACY, DECLINE AND REBIRTH
 Influences on Art
Deco -immediate
successor
 21st Cent.
Deconstructivism,
Blobitecture and
works of Calatrava
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1930 after Hitlers’ regime
expressionism declined
New Objectivity came as
the reaction to subjective
expressionism
Existenzminimum
philosophy- use of minimal
resources
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NEO EXPRESSIONISM
 Brutalist architecture as typically very
linear, fortresslike and blockish, often
a concrete construction
“Architecture's principal function is
emotion.“ – Ar. Mathias Goeritz
Eero Sarinen – TWA Terminal – organic
forms close to Herman Finsterlin
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Sydney Opera House- Jorn Utzon
with the shell structure
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