One of the main concepts repeated throughout the modernist movement is Louis Sullivan's "form follows function". This goes hand in hand with a concept by Le Corbusier: “a house is a machine for living”. Modernism gained popularity after World War II, however, this movement would not last because it “could not adequately understand and accommodate the social dynamics of family and community and, as a result, many modernist buildings were demolished in the 1970s.” . Although this movement has not stood the test of time, the innovation and inspiration for future movements make modernism very important. “Removing domestic comforts from the domestic interior may purify the design, but it does little to encourage the creation of a 'home' rather than a home,” as we see in social and public housing. The concept of social housing was born in 1937, when “the federal government became officially involved in the issue of public housing under the United States Housing ACT.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Modernist ideals were first applied in this housing system that same year by Maxwell Fry at Kendal House for the first time. The design became building-centric as the focus was no longer on the occupants, but rather on the structural aesthetics of the building and how displaying them would create an impact. Projects like the skyscraper were made possible thanks to the introduction of new materials: glass, concrete and steel. These were the materials that inspired the removal/limitation of ornamentation, as they provided a new aesthetic of their own. The expression “form follows function” could not have found a better match than that of social housing, since the form of the building is entirely based on its function, or at least this is what was believed at the time. This form of housing requires the building to be easily replicable and provide a neutral space where it can be customized to the users' liking. While modernism provides this, occupants may not have the ability to personalize their home due to socioeconomic factors: Social housing, like public housing, is budget-based and is intended for people who may not be financially stable. This MUST be taken into consideration when designing social/public housing. Should WELL standards be applied to social housing? To fully understand the idea of making WELL standards a priority in social housing, we must first develop a better understanding of the occupants. “The new housing was designed primarily for World War II veterans and did not provide much help to those who were not.” The Second Housing Act of 1954 "focused on the conservation and rehabilitation of slum areas". Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Welfare houses of the modernist movement, initially intended for veterans and people in poverty did not provide the comforting, "homey" feeling of leaving the house, simply a home. While for some this may be considered an affective design, others may disagree due to the fact that these occupants may have mental health issues that may be worsened by a cold, institutional atmosphere in the design of their homes. The WELL standards are intended to help improve the mental and physical well-being of occupants, which would have a big impact in construction..
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