Vienna has been called the “testing ground of Modernism.” What does this mean? Explain how architects in Vienna moved toward architecture that was Modern in some ways but remained traditional in others? Select two different architects who prenticed in Vienna… and select one building by each. Discuss the buildings in detail explaining how each moved toward the Modern Movement. After discussing each building individually, compare and contrast the two buildings to reach broader conclusion about the character of architectural design in Vienna in the years from the late 1890s to 1914 that show how it was the “testing ground of Modernism.”
Towards the end of the 19 century, Vienna was in a transition from having been a “primitive city” a city with walls and a big land around it to act is protection, to a modern and more up to date city. The Vienna plan, which was introduced in 1860, showed how the space around the city was to be urbanized. The construction and building of the land to create new city blocks, parks and roads was done very first and in a short period of time.
Due to these rapid developments, there was a reaction by the artist in Vienna who sort new direction and started bringing new ideas in the art community. As this changed, also did the architecture. Architecture had gone through several movements over the years as new materials and new ways and ideas were being experimented and used. Some of the ideas that had some influence on how things were built in Vienna at this time come from Gottfried Semper. In his theories, he puts emphasis on things like frame, foundation, cladding and hearth as being the elements that are most important in construction of buildings. In Vienna, frame and cladding are widely used. All these things; moving in new direction in arts, the use of materials such as steel and cladding, and the rapid development and industrializations of Vienna are just but a few things that show how there was a movements towards what is now...