Myth of International Style: 20th-Century Architectural Modernism and Bauhaus Design in Modernisation of Urban Cities

This paper considers the key question of how modernist architectural principles behind Bauhaus, Le Corbusier and American International Style movements are viewed in the context of contemporary architectural designs. By examining literature and perspectives of scholars, the core principles of architectural modernism will be reframed in the context of 21st -century vernacularism approaches such as environmental sustainability. This problem statements if the aesthetics of formalism and rationality of classical International Style architecture can still be considered “style” for the 21st -century. To understand the subject with regards design structure, forms and materials, a case study is conducted to compare notable modernist works in urban styles of architecture found in Tel Aviv and North America. Additionally, the paper questions factors that led to International Style falling out with contemporary practitioners, and at the same time, how design minimalism enhances understanding of climate responsive and sustainable architecture. Overall, this analysis finds that 20th -century International Style, driven by socio-political change movements, machine aesthetics and mass production ethos, expressed through design movements such as Bauhaus, has started to lose its relevancy to urban architects facing social and environmental pressures of globalisation, although the universal values presented by Le Corbusier’s 5-Point Principles are still significant in studying the historical and evolutionary aspects of architectural design. Finally, research suggests that responsiveness to climate elements continue to signify the gainful lessons of modernist architecture in going forward into the 21st -century.

Keywords: modernism, urbanisation, International Style, Bauhaus, Le Corbusier.