The Emergence of Modern Architecture
Le Corbusier, Alvar Alto, and Mies Van der Rohe were all three prominent figures in the shaping and defining of modern architecture. All three contributed in different ways and their influence can be seen through their residential architecture. Le Corbusier was a very dynamic architect, and he was also know as a planner, painter, and sculptor. His development of the domino skeleton was a groundbreaking idea and became a foundation to the modern movement. It was a prototype for mass production housing, and consisted of rigid floors supported by free-standing pillars. This allowed for vertical stacking and would greatly influence the shape and style of his houses.
It also helped with opening up the interior circulation. His overall design ideas were to employ a simplistic geometrical structure while supporting the functions of his works. Another lasting and radical idea of Corbusier was his 5 points of architecture. These were the pilotis, roof garden, free façade, open floor plan, and horizontal windows. All of these points can be seen in his Villa Savoye. The pilotis allows for the structure to be raised up on thin columns, giving the illusion that the house should be too heavy to be held by these pillars.
Also because the pillars are no longer he was able to use the vertical windows to frame views. His previous works contained thin vertical windows. The pilotis also allows for an open floor plan, which he took advantage of to incorporate curvilinear forms in the interior, which can also be seen in the Villa Savoy. 
(http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/65/Harry_Seidler/302/25117/)Corbusier use of the roof garden had rarely, if at all been seen in residential architecture. That practice is seen today in several modern buildings.
Alvar Alto’s architecture was sculpted by many concerns of the early 20th century. He studied the needs of a modern society while looking at the physical environment. His early works were influenced by Nordic architecture and neoclassical ideas and would later evolve into simple volumes, similar to Corbusier, and interior decoration that is influenced by the natural elements. This can be seen in his Villa Mairea, where he uses vertical wooden beams that abstractly represent a forest.
Another prominent aspect of Alto’s residential architecture was his creation of outdoor spaces, and the way he addresses the landscape. It shows that he respects and appreciates the landscape (lecture slide). A good example of the way he creates an exterior space is in his Experimental House.
He creates a natural exterior space by the shape of the house and the surrounding landscape. This is a common practice in modern architecture now and it is even being incorporated into commercial buildings. Alto also used to curvilinear idea in his later works to help separate his spaces into private and communal areas (lecture slide). In his Baker house, the communal areas were enclosed and the private space was highlighted by the curvilinear element.
The Baker house really shows his use of asymmetry and curved walls.
Mies Van der Rohe was an architect that really relied on simplicity while really focusing on aesthetics and organization. He created architecture in its purist form. He wasn’t the first architect to really use simplistic designs, but he really took minimalism to a new level. This can be seen in his Farnsworth house.
Similar to Corbusier, Van der Rohe raised to structure off the ground with thin beams. The Farnsworth house looks very plain and is a true example of minimalism. This really represents his famous quote “more is less.” The Farnsworth house also incorporates the outside into the inside through the use of maximum glazing. His works are similar to those of Corbusier in basic form, yet they have very different perceptions of modernity (lecture slide). In his Wolf house, he shows similarities to Corbusier and Aalto.
It uses simple geometric forms while creating an exterior space. He also creates an upper balcony, similar to Corbusier. In his plan of the Tugendhat house, one enters from the street level and descends to the living space below. He also divides the spaces within with fixed free standing screens. He was able to do this because of the production of the new thin columns that both previous architects used. This is a simple yet unique way to organize a space.
All three of these architects had their own unique influence on modern architecture. They shared many similar ideas, yet they had their own creative spin on what modern architecture was to them.
