Minimalist architecture is, par excellence, the Franco Design side. Although it was born at the beginning of the 20th century, the movement has remained a trend, after almost a hundred years since its conception. With a life as extensive as yours, minimalist architecture has had its ups and downs, as well as transformations, however, the essence of it is maintained: purity and architectural simplicity.
The success of this style is the calm and relaxation that its spaces transmit, then, although the ideals of the design vary according to each era, the hostability sought is maintained. That's why, It is time to enter history, characteristics and exponents of minimalist architecture.
The minimalist architecture was born in the twentieth century, and today continues in a trend.Johanneke Kroesbergen-Kamps / Unspash.
When was the minimalist architecture born?
To understand the origin of minimalist architecture, it is first essential to know its historical and architectural context. In general terms, Minimalism is an aesthetic mutation of modern architecture values. Modernism arose in Europe thanks to two events: the industrial revolution and the First World War. The Industrial Revolution, concluded in the mid -nineteenth century, brought with it the possibility of venturing into the creation of new construction materials, such as steel, concrete and glass, in addition, it allowed their mass production. However, World War I, at the beginning of the 20th century, forced the architects of their time to design under standards of savings and austerity, for the impact that war had on the European economy. For this reason, modern architecture, with its origin dated in 1920, built its works between concrete panels and steel structures, without decorations, ornaments, or elements out of the essentials; He also rejected any historical inclination, such as the watershed in the design trends it represents.
Years later, functionalism – which was a current daughter of modern architecture, which defended that «the function continues to the form» – mutated; Simple aesthetics would be the goal to be achieved at all costs. In 1930, the famous phrase «Less is more», by the architect Mies van der Rohe, would lay the foundations for what is now known as minimalist architecture. For the decades of the 70s and 80s, this style gained more strength, although for the beginning of the 21st century it stopped recreating with the previous assiduity. Despite that, its aesthetics reborn more strongly and contemporary architecture led to the cusp to minimalism.