The Begginings of the International Style

International Style and How it Came to Be
The modern movement in architecture known as the International Style emerged into Europe and the United States around the 1920’s. The key players in this new style of architecture gave a new direction to building structure by emphasizing and lightening the structure while at the same time allowing it to enclose large dynamic spaces. With the use of steel frames, curtain walls, u-shaped buildings, set backs and reinforced concrete, the International Style was the new precedent for any building looking to become sleeker and more functional. In his book, The Sources of Modern Architecture, Nikolaus Pevsner writes about the emergence of this new style, how it was formed and who helped to shape it.
Before the International Style can be defined, one must look to the past to see the buildings and their architects who would be the influence for this modern style. First of the buildings that would later play a large role in the evolution of ar...