definition
strict definition
modern style
Architectural styles of the present era which derive their aesthetic from the practical and functional qualities of buildings.
Modern styles belong to the early 20th century and later. They are characterized by simplicity and functionalism, in response to increased standardization of building parts and mechanization of their production.
The design draws its appearance from function, standardized components, and mechanized construction. That approach differs from one organized primarily around the reproduction of historical ornament.
Modern styles can differ in how they express their construction. Structural expressionism displays the engineering, while other modern designs use simpler or more enclosed forms.
modern style Photos
More specific definitions
16 sub-definitions-
art deco
A style of the 1920s and 1930s featuring streamlined shapes and restricted ornamentation. -
art moderne
A streamlined architectural development of Art Deco, with smooth forms, rounded corners, and little applied ornament. -
art nouveau
An idiosyncratic style of the early 20th century based on naturalistic and highly imaginative forms and decoration. -
arts and crafts
Architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries which emphasizes the handmade or non-industrial features of its design. -
brutalist
Modern architecture using heavy and massive forms, preferring an appearance of strength to elegance. -
chicago school
A pre-modern style that emphasizes the simplicity and modular regularity of a building's skeletal framework. -
deconstructivist
Architecture which mixes a modernist vocabulary with an anti-rational flair. -
early modern
A transition between art moderne and standard modernism, often with traces of neoclassical features. -
expressionist
Architecture rooted in early 20th century Germany with bold simple forms and effusions of angular or organic lines. -
folk art
Fantastic or unconventional architecture which relies on crafted ornamentation and non-standardized forms. -
googie
Jazzy and futuristic architecture of the 1950s and 1960s evoking the Space Age. -
international style
High modernism of the 1950s-1970s, characterized by simple forms and spacious interiors. -
modern
Architecture from the mid-20th century onwards, with simple forms suited to mass production of building materials. -
prairie school
Architecture influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, with natural materials and broad horizontal lines. -
shingle style
A domestic style characterized by simple lines, broad gables, gentle curves, and rustic materials. -
structural expressionist
Architecture which gives the appearance of high technology by emphasizing its structural elements.