The globalisation of modern architecture: the impact of politics, economics and social change on architecture and urban design since 1900.
Contrary to popular belief, globalisation is not new. It has, in one way or another, been around since ancient times, spreading through the early empires. Take the Roman Empire for example. A grand infrastructure was built which could allow a traveller to move from country to another, then to another and to another and still be using the same currency. They would even do so using purpose built roads. Furthermore, wherever our traveller went, they would see similar structures all over the empire.
With the fall of these empires saw the fall of their globalisations. Evidence of them was all but destroyed. For quite some time, individual cultures grew in their own ways, according to the visions of the people who lived in them. However, with more modern inventions, the time has come for globalisation to return, and it has done so on a grander scale than ever before.
Arguably the most important causes of global architecture have been the World Wars. Both of these wars stimulated advances in technology which kickstarted the forging of new uses for new materials. A lot of these found their way into architecture. Yet more than the physical advances are the effects that they had on society. During the wars, people moved where possible in order to be safer. This meant that architects would travel to other countries to design. In such cases, new inspirations were found and styles were mixed together.
Importantly though was that after the wars, people became united. Countries recognised the strength of unity and ideas were shared. It is all because of political, economical and social changes that modernism crept through and that the style was built up.
Reflecting on globalisation, it is safe to say that we are all influenced by it. I have noticed myself the changes in the world in time alone in which I have been aware of it. In just the past few years there has been the greater spread of people, more countries becoming more accessible, ideas being shared across the world and the emergence of a global context. It is hard to deny that any of us are influenced by globalisation.
I know for a fact that many of my researched precedents for my designs are from all over the globe. Rarely is one piece of work inspired by the work or context of just one place. We live in a world where the people around us could be from anywhere and any origin, and I think that that is amazing. The world has become a more cultured place. A place which despite its constant size, is expanding all the time.
Globalisation often has bad ideas attached to it. But I feel, especially upon reflection of the text, that globalisation is a good thing. It is not perfect, but it is growing and learning and evolving. All we need to do is steer it in the right direction and use it for the right purposes.
With the fall of these empires saw the fall of their globalisations. Evidence of them was all but destroyed. For quite some time, individual cultures grew in their own ways, according to the visions of the people who lived in them. However, with more modern inventions, the time has come for globalisation to return, and it has done so on a grander scale than ever before.
Arguably the most important causes of global architecture have been the World Wars. Both of these wars stimulated advances in technology which kickstarted the forging of new uses for new materials. A lot of these found their way into architecture. Yet more than the physical advances are the effects that they had on society. During the wars, people moved where possible in order to be safer. This meant that architects would travel to other countries to design. In such cases, new inspirations were found and styles were mixed together.
Importantly though was that after the wars, people became united. Countries recognised the strength of unity and ideas were shared. It is all because of political, economical and social changes that modernism crept through and that the style was built up.
Reflecting on globalisation, it is safe to say that we are all influenced by it. I have noticed myself the changes in the world in time alone in which I have been aware of it. In just the past few years there has been the greater spread of people, more countries becoming more accessible, ideas being shared across the world and the emergence of a global context. It is hard to deny that any of us are influenced by globalisation.
I know for a fact that many of my researched precedents for my designs are from all over the globe. Rarely is one piece of work inspired by the work or context of just one place. We live in a world where the people around us could be from anywhere and any origin, and I think that that is amazing. The world has become a more cultured place. A place which despite its constant size, is expanding all the time.
Globalisation often has bad ideas attached to it. But I feel, especially upon reflection of the text, that globalisation is a good thing. It is not perfect, but it is growing and learning and evolving. All we need to do is steer it in the right direction and use it for the right purposes.
Adam. R. (2012). The Globalisation Of Modern Architecture. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.