In the first half of the 20th century, new materials and techniques like steel beams and large glass panes, allowed architects to create new, larger and more “graphical” shapes and spaces.
No longer constrained by the small spans that older techniques dictated, the “mid century modern” architects started creating houses with totally new shapes.
Bauhaus, Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson Le Corbusier are typical exponents of this. In the early years, a certain obsession with steel and glass made the houses sometimes a little too “cold” and “sterile”; but these days are long gone.
Today, 7 decades later, thousands and thousands of difference modern façades and layout have been created, but probably only 10 or 20 archetypes have stood the test of time and have become really timeless.
Getting the shapes and proportions exactly right is extremely important. Modern designs are “easy” to copy but at the same time easily destroyed. Today, almost every architect claims to do “modern” design – but if it´s not their real talent and vocation – steer clear.
Perhaps surprisingly, Brazil has been an early adapter of modernism and has probably some of the best modern architects of the world, with Marcio Kogan (studioMK27)on of our personal favourites.
Our teams our spread from Europe to Brazil and Australia, have a long track record of good modern design. After all, it´s all we do, and we´ve been doing this for a long time.
