Functionalism (architecture)

Functionalism in architecture is the idea that buildings should be designed based only on what they are meant to do. This way of thinking about buildings started after World War I, as part of a bigger movement called Modernism. People wanted to create a new and better world for everyone, especially after such a difficult time.

The tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium (Y. Lindegren & T. Jäntti, built in 1934–38)

Functionalist architecture was also connected to ideas about fairness and caring for people, linked to socialism and modern humanism. This new way of building had a big effect in places like Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, the USSR, and the Netherlands. Later, it also spread to Scandinavia and Finland.

Some people in the architecture world still talk about functionalism a lot, especially when they think about what makes a good modern building. It isn’t always easy to see why this way of thinking is important, but it has shaped many cities and homes around the world.

History

The idea of functionalism in buildings goes back a long way. It started with old ideas where buildings needed to be useful, strong, and beautiful. Some architects in the past thought that buildings should only have parts that are needed for use, building, or looking right.

In 1896, an architect named Louis Sullivan said that "form follows function." This means that how a building looks should come from what it is used for. Later, in the 1930s, functionalism started to mean a style of building without extra decorations. Some people even used the word in a negative way to talk about simple and plain buildings. Even today, some architects have different ideas about whether buildings need to follow function or not.

Modernism

Main article: Modern architecture

Modern architecture was greatly shaped by two famous architects: the Franco-Swiss Le Corbusier and the German Mies van der Rohe. Both believed that buildings should be simple and clear, focusing on what they are meant to do. In 1923, Mies van der Rohe worked in Weimar Germany, creating buildings that were both simple and beautiful. Le Corbusier once said, "a house is a machine for living in." His book from 1923, Vers une architecture, became very important in architecture. One of his early buildings, the Villa Savoye in Poissy, France, is seen as a perfect example of this style.

In Europe

Czechoslovakia

The former Czechoslovakia was an early user of functionalist design. Notable examples include Villa Tugendhat in Brno, designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1928, and Villa Müller in Prague, designed by Adolf Loos in 1930. Many buildings such as villas, apartments, factories, and offices show this style, which grew as the country developed quickly in the early 1900s.

Germany

Main article: New Objectivity (architecture)

Typical railing, flat roof, stucco and colour detail in Nordic funkis (SOK warehouse and offices, 1938, Finland)

German architects used functionalist ideas from the 1910s onward. They focused on simple, clean designs with glass and straight lines. By the 1920s, this style became very popular in Germany.

Nordic "funkis"

In Scandinavia and Finland, functionalist ideas became well-known after the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition. Architects liked this style and used it in many buildings. They often added special features like flat roofs and round windows. After World War II, many new homes and buildings were made in this style.

Denmark

Vilhelm Lauritzen, Arne Jacobsen, and C.F. Møller were important Danish architects who used functionalist design. They also designed furniture that matched this style. Many homes and buildings in Denmark show this functionalist influence.

Finland

Alvar Aalto and Erik Bryggman were key Finnish architects who used functionalist design. They built many different types of buildings, from homes to offices, showing this style. Functionalist design also influenced furniture and interiors.

Poland

Polish architects in the years 1918–1939 were influenced by European modern styles. They built many homes and public buildings with functionalist features like roof terraces and marble interiors. The city of Gdynia is a great example of functionalist city planning.

Russia

In Russia and the former Soviet Union, functionalism was called Constructivist architecture. It was widely used for big building projects from 1918 to 1932. After that, a different style took over.

Södra Ängby, Sweden

The area of Södra Ängby in Stockholm, Sweden, is a large example of functionalist design. It includes over 500 buildings built between 1933 and 1940, showing a mix of functionalist and garden city ideas.

Zlín, Czech Republic

The city of Zlín in the Czech Republic was fully rebuilt using functionalist ideas in the 1930s. The Bata Shoes company led this change. The buildings in Zlín all followed strict functionalist rules, using the same materials and designs to serve the needs of the city.

Khrushchyovka

Functionalism in landscape architecture

The idea of functionalism in landscape architecture grew at the same time as in building design. Designers such as Christopher Tunnard, James Rose, and Garrett Eckbo focused on creating outdoor spaces for living, connecting homes with gardens. On a bigger scale, the German planner Leberecht Migge suggested using gardens that grow food in housing projects to help families have enough to eat. Even larger, groups like the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne pushed for city designs that fit people’s needs for homes, work, play, and moving around.