Topic - Constructivism, Architecture for Tomorrow
Research essay - Explore the ideas behind the design method of this futurist movement.
This section of the report will explore the ideas of visionary architecture and the role it plays within the development of societies. As with any part of society, new ideas or technology will have profound effects on the nature and intention of designing, concerning the realisation of design as such.
This exploration will endeavor to explain the ideas that generate possibilities for new architecture and their desired outcome or goal. Where do the generating ideas come from, by what means do they translate into realised forms and how do these ideas effect society as a whole.
The investigation will center on one architectural movement renowned for its willingness to embrace new ideas and technologies, and to challenge the role of historical reference within the realm of ideas that generate architecture. The movement to be explored for its attribute of openness to new ideas and the future is the Russian avant-garde, or Constructivism.
Introduction
Constructivism forms an
integral part of architectural history. The movement, located in Russia
was initiated as part of the 'Prolekult' movement or the Bolsheviks ideals
in 1906 under Vladimir Lenin, and aimed for "a regenerated culture through
a new unity of science, industry and art"1.
The 1917 revolution gave rise to the possibility of a new society and new
social order, of which, architects saw their profession as chief engineers.
The goal was to implement the ideals of the new Bolshevik State with its
social agendas incorporated into daily life. The movement lasted until
1932, when Stalin imposed his new draconian societal directives2
, which included architectural notions similar to Adolph Hitler and his
use of mass classicism associated with Nazi Germany.
Constructivism, when considered within the realm of architecture, was chiefly concerned with the design process. This concern centered around the idea that, if the design process were better directed, understood and had a scientific base of analysis and synthesis, new architectural designs would become further advanced, hence benefiting society.
The analysis of the designing method by the Constructivists is useful to new designers of today, as it provides insight into the transition that our modern society is now facing with the information technology revolution. The idea of introducing rigour to the design process then promoted Constructivism as a force with a plan. If, as then, a plan can be generated for the integration of information technology and its implications for today and tomorrow, then the process of integration becomes efficient and effective to higher degrees and with deeper penetration into society.
The primary objective of Constructivism was to establish a scientific foundation for the approach to constructing buildings and services that would fulfill the demands of their culture. Architectural forms were to be created that would accommodate or respond to social evolution that had occurred within the process of the 1917 revolution.
Constructivism followed one basic philosophical principle about ideas, which had two slightly different realisations within architecture that are as follows. The primary philosophical idea centered on the notion of formalising the design process. The intention or belief was that by introducing formality into the design process and introducing a process to design, many intuitive or random decisions made by designers can be eliminated. This would encourage a greater use of, and reliance on facts and analysis for the derivation of form. The two minor variations on this evolved from the practise of the primary idea. Firstly was the idea that architects use the ideas about technology of production for that era. The inspiration was the zeitgeist of the machine. The machine would act as the object for observation and synthesis back into new design, which is interpreted by the architect. The second set of ideas saw the design process as laboratory type studies where the principles of rhythm, movement, time, and sensory pleasures were identified and used as the basis for design. The role of this method was to understand what pleased man and what man actually did throughout his life span. Then these observations could then be used to produce formulae for design.
The role of architecture was seen as the provider of solutions for the problems of today and the future. Architecture was seen to evoke ideas about society and the direction it was taking, moving or shifting. The architect was to design solutions for the needs of society today and for the trends of tomorrow. A reliable method of producing this was then required; this method was indicated but not clarified early on, within the movement of Constructivism. The identification of this design process came about in three forms. They are closely related and come from similar base ideas, but act differently in operation and were created within different times of the movement.
| Image 2 Tatlin, 1914 'counter relief' model work. | |
Part 1 - The machine
as inspiration
Part 2 - The laboratory
study method
Part 3 - The design
ideas of one Constructivist architect
Part 1
The Constructivists believed
that architects should study life as it actually is just as one would a
machine. This would lead them to the 'real truths' about what life actually
is and how it operates3, without the historical baggage placed upon it by society over time. This
study would then provide the architect with raw data, with which they can
then act to organise and improve the actions of life in general. Constructivists
also believe architecture is concerned with the removal of expected forms
derived from past and interpreted for the public. In addition, Constructivists
were even more concerned with replacing the classical aesthetic with one
that resounds to the aesthetic of the zeitgeist (the machine age).
The Constructivists believed that intelligence in architecture is seeing what exists and imagining what could exist, which is then portrayed within a visual vocabulary. Where art forms two parts of life, the dynamic and static. The dynamic is not the everyday and does not relate to masses4. Whereas the static is what the masses expect and demand from artists. Constructivists believed that art and architecture should be removed from the demands of the masses to become special and symbolic. Art is seen not as analysis, but synthesis of the cultural values of society, to be seen and interpreted by the artist / architect.
Constructivism also concerned itself with that which is, as it exists and not as our minds interpret them (pure forms). Removing the language of meanings derived from the past. This provides a clean slate for architects to design by probing the implications of a larger contemporary metaphysic, which is also rigorously programmatic and disposing of previous generation’s symbolism.
Constructivism's underlying notion of 'structure' was from derived from a deterministic, mechanistic logic of nineteenth and early twentieth century engineering. It also follows the avoidance of pre-conceptions, showing that Constructivism has done more than invent the same form with a different tectonic, the traditional method of design is challenged against this new order.
A factory " is a collective of machines; ...all linked by desirable necessity just as the parts of an individual machine are, ...and at the same time its is also a 'dwelling', not for people primarily but for machines, but [in a way that makes it] an architectural object none the less, with all spatial connotations of that"5.
| Image 3 Chernikhov Tales of Industry, 'complex forms in a strict rhythm perspective'. |  |
This theory has relations with honesty in architecture. The chief patriot of this theory Ginzburg, has strong roots within the engineering fields of construction. Sources of inspiration are found in the best achievements of engineers and industrial architects, aeroplanes and grain silos exemplify the iconical ideals of the design intention. The machine provides the crux of this naked constructiveness of component organisms. Being konstruktungi (constructive) looking at design as the solution for not only the dictates of today, but also the needs of tomorrow.
Architects are seen as professionals who solve problems put to them. When design problems are put to them, architects can create real and practical solutions for everyday living. This design method expropriates new systems of compositional analysis from the spatial patterns of new problems.
Style and epoch ideas preach a logical process of design, firstly the spatial organisation, followed by materials and the method of construction, then the order of interrelationships of spatial elements. Responses to new social and technical problems and devising associated plastic types for the epoch, maximising work done by chosen materials or constructed elements.
| Image 4 Lissitzky's series of skyscrapers for central Moscow, 1923-25. |  |
Tecktonika, Faktura, Konstrucktsiia7
The practice of architecture was directed by the schooling graduates received within the realm of socialistic ideals. The architecture was to address political and social issues for the present and future.
tektonika
- organisation + science
Signifies 'violent re-structurings'
from out of the earth's core. A synonym, of an eruption from the inner
essence. This leads the designer towards a synthesis of the new content
with the new forms. All acts of the Constructivists must be 'coloured',
or considered, by understanding that a 'violent re-structuring' of underlying
relationships has profoundly changed the way industry should shape and
distribute material in space.
Factura
- organic link
Faktura is not just the
handling of surface, but the character of the whole processing; for example
timber includes the felling, milling and seasoning whereby it becomes an
object. The appropriate use of materials, with respect to their nature.
The organic condition of processed material, or the new condition of its
organism. It does not restrict the tektonika or hinder the konstruktsiia.
konstruktsiia
- activity taken to the extreme
Assembling and ordering
of function within Constructivism. The actual process of putting together.
Konstruktsiia in short is design as commonly defined within the remainder
of the architectural profession.
| Image 5 Chernikhov, commercial and advertisement building for the Sevzaptorg organisation. |  |
Dismembering and Reassembly8
Dismembering - establish the form of the social condenser
Reassembly
- the restoration of organic wholeness.
This applies to both existing
products and new ones, which involves all four sections stated previously.
| Image 6 Chernikhov painting theatrical volumetric -construction installation |  |
Part 3
This area will explore the
specific design method employed by one Constructivist architect Iakov Chernikhov,
Russia 1889 - 1951.
Chernikhov is placed within the second cohort9 of the architectural avant-garde movement, and was fortunate in some ways to receive education during the turmoil of the revolution. This allowed a rural boy acceptance into mainstream urban education. Chernikhov graduated from the Vkhutemas in the late 1920's with architectural solutions, which were ‘primal’, or 'brutal' with the use of form10. Iakov Chernikhov developed his personal architectural design philosophy within the movement of Constructivism, under the influence of Malevicj and the Suprematists11. Whilst he is placed within the movement generally. His design theory of architecture developed personally outside of the official schools or groups of the avant-garde.
The theory of Chernikhov was based on two main ideas, firstly the use of machine as inspiration to design and production, "machine as proper inspiration and the logical paradigm of contemporary architecture was independently derived"12. Secondly, the formal study or research of forms based on laboratory work 'method of formal transformations' or the organisation of architecture to higher levels of development.
The first principles promoted the use of 'constructive rules' as the techtonic or 'komponavat' (the arrangement of parts). This idea continued with the 'rational fitting together' of his ideas into building for man's existence. "What I am trying to do, is to establish a clear and precise basis for constructive concepts and principles, and to elucidate their essence, their logic, their rules and their laws"13.
The second idea of compositional
forms that describe rhythm within form making are; 'a method of compositional
combination', with the removal of ornament which was relevant to past cultures.
This new mode of design was to resolve the new scale and order of vast
sizes and numbers14.
"The energy of the world
is moving towards economy and each of its steps into eternity is expressed
in a new economic culture of signs"15.
| Image 7 Chernikhov drawing grids of curved symmetry. |  |
The art of Graphic Representation;
1927
The use of art to describe
the intentions of man's fantasies, by using diverse means, this depiction
can lead to new modes of expression escaping from man's traditional forms.
Geometric Drawing; 1927
This method teaches student
to become familiar with geometry and the visual truths associated with
it. By introducing standard assignment presentations the method of composition
becomes developed.
Construction of Ornament;
1927
A means of identifying the
ornament for the new age, given each age has its ornament, The Greek, Gothic,
Renaissance etc.
| Image 8 Chernikhov geometrical drawing. |  |
Design Taken Forward
The ideas outlined above
indicate the architectural directions the Constructivist movement took
when theorising about or designing their visionary architecture. From studying
these ideas it is hoped that the architectural problems we are faced with
today may have a clearer definition. The Constructivists showed that society
continually develops and that the architectural design process should accommodate
these changes in societal functions whilst also developing itself. The
intention of architects and architecture as the facilitator for this change
forms a large part of society’s existence. It is seen within each individual
design the Constructivists create that the idea of architecture is one
of centrality to the function of society. The centrality of this thought
creates an inner sense of importance within the designers, that the creations
have direct ramifications on the perception and use of space. The architecture
created has effects on the psyche of the individuals who encounter them.
The events and ideas that make up the Constructivist movement are full of aspiring ideas and theories, which they were mostly unable to test in practice. If something practical can be learnt from this movement. It is to develop a practice or theory that will advance society, which means the mode for doing such work must be realised as part of that theory whilst not entirely overriding the ideas themselves.
A balance must be sought between the process of idea formulation and the production of ideas into reality. Whilst it is beneficial to think, thinking alone will not transform societies, action is also part of the equation.
The Constructivists with their slightly varying backgrounds or visions failed to deliver more than glimpses of a visionary architecture to society. A failure to produce real working solutions, buildings for the masses, coupled with the primary concern of the people whom they were trying to serve, which was food and shelter, forced the government to find solutions else where. The government was left to find solutions to these immediate problems and when the Constructivists were unable to deliver solutions, the older bourgeois capitalists were accommodated to solve immediate crisis problems. Constructivism's theories and ideals continuously grew larger and larger until they were planning and designing for the whole life of a citizen from birth to schooling, to working, to socialising, to recreation and even death. This meant they had an enormous number of problems to solve and enormous amounts of people to please in a short span of time. The Bolshevik revolution that made Constructivism possible had also caused problems with production of all kinds and people were either short of food, or short of space in which to live. Eventually Stalin was forced by these facts and other considerations to effectively close down the avant-garde movements by introducing architects and architectural ideas that were tried and true and would solve the problems of now. This left the Constructivists still designing for the future, but never being able to realise their ideas.
The actual ideas produced by the Constructivist movement remain a valid method by which to produce architecture. The process of design and the method by which it inspired are as important today as they were eighty years ago. The design comparison section of this report will identify design methods and ideas that stand to become a generating method for virtual architecture of the future.
Go to Section two Liquid Reality
Go to Section three Synthesis
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