One of the most predominant movements in North American architecture is corporate architecture. Corporate Architecture is one of the movements that its elements relate to the high modernism. This movement of corporate architecture establishes the corporations in the 20th century as economically strong and stable entities in the societies of North America.
Corporate Architecture shows a unique movement in North America as a part of a capitalistic society that these structures are presented as a monument of a strong and stable economy. (Martin 2003) The architectural works resemble the elements of high modernism, such as the open and infinite space, the lighting in the works gives an infinite opening of the space in the building. Also, these structures have mostly with empty elements are repetitive when the building is stacked one atop of another. The space is filled with the core, where people can be taken by elevators throughout the offices of the building. The movement of corporate architecture have different styles that the buildings were created.
In the earlier movement of corporate architecture, the buildings were simplified on the outside, whereas when they are looked more into detail, they become more ornate, such as in the Sullvian Architects and the Rockefeller Center in New York. As corporate architecture continued to evolve, the body of the building become cleaner and simpler. The outside was engineered with glass and mullion to create a more open and infinite space, like the designs of Mies van der Rohe. Architects such as Harrison and Abramowitz design the glass and mullion structure in the United Nations building in New York that give a more contemporary design of Corporate Architecture.
Corporate Architecture carries a high modernist movement with the popularity that was given to North American architects that establish as a monument for economic stability. Corporate Architecture also marks the elements of high modernism throughout the history of architecture by creating the infinite spaces throughout the buildings. These structures still resemble today as the monumental structure of how corporates grow and expand throughout society and how societal movement can shift architecture.
References
Koolhaas. 1978. Delirious New York.
—. 1985. Typical Plan.
Martin. 2003. The Orgaizational Complex.
Vasilij, like some of your previous posts, while I appreciate the accurate summary of the readings/lectures, I need you to express a more critical voice with regards to the week’s topics. For instance, how do you assign value to these works? How can you compare/contrast the works and associated readings with previous weeks?