1.
Organicism and
architecture in the 50s
Revision

2.
Introduction
• We know as organic architecture all
the architectonical manifestations
that aim at adequate and ally to the
nature.
• This idea can be found long ago in
History but the master in the
formulation of its principles was
Frank Lloyd Wright.

3.
Characteristics
• Organicist architecture is defined by:
– the sense of the interior as a reality;
– the free plan as flexible and a way of
allowing the continuity of atmospheres;
– the unity between interior and exterior;
– the use of natural materials;
– the house as a place for shelter.

4.
Wright: Influences
• This American born architect received
several influences:
– He travelled to Tokyo where he was fascinated
by the Japanese architecture.
– Other of the influences that can be noticed in
his work is that of Maya temples of Yucatan.
– Due to these varied influenced we can say
that Wright had a cosmopolitan formation.

5.
Wright: Evolution
• His beginnings are associated to the
Chicago School but soon he started
developing his own style, in which
we can distinguish different periods:
– Early years: influenced by Chicago
School
– Prairie Style
– Skyscrapers
– Abstract sculptural ornamentation

6.
Wright: Work
• Caracteristics of Prairie Style:
– simple structures consist of functional spaces,
– light and integrated with nature,
– at the same time that they are isolated enough
as to guarantee the intimacy of their
inhabitants
– the houses are frequently built in different
levels, and always a bit separated from the
floor, as in Japanese architecture.
• One of the most famous houses is the
Robbie House

7.
Wright: Work
• He continued developing public and
private buildings where he continued
applying his building philosophy.
• Representative work: Falling Water House,
in Pennsylvania:
– Hemanaged to integrate completely nature and
architecture.
– The different terraces offer the possibility of
building in different levels and glass dissolve
the walls so interior and exterior and in
permanent relation.
– He used different kind of materials, with an
important role of stone that combine with glass
and concrete

8.
Wright: Work
• In other project Wright experimented with
curve forms, as in the New York
Guggenheim Museum:
– He wanted the museum to have well lighted
spaces with controlled light that was not
reflected in the surfaces.
– At the same time, he designed the building to
offer a possibility of walking up on a ramp in a
continuous way, without any braking element
for the exhibition of the works of art

9.
Alvar Aalto
• One of the most representative
architects of the 50s is the Finnish
Alvar Aalto.
• His works are characterised by
– imbued by rationalist spirit but
– mixed of popular tradition and local
materials, mainly wood, so common in
his native region.

10.
Alvar Aalto
• Characteristics:
– His buildings are warm and thought to be
appropriate for human beings and the
dimension of human body, something in which
Wright influence can be noticed.
– Aalto’s mature work embodies a unique
functionalist/expressionist and human style,
successfully applied to libraries, civic centres,
churches, and housing.

11.
Alvar Aalto
• Although Aalto borrowed from the
International Style, he utilized texture,
colour and structure in creative new ways.
• He refined the generic examples of
modern architecture that existed in most
of Europe.
• His designs were particularly significant
because of their response to site, material
and form