Architecture shapes the world we live in – literally. Whether it’s the home we live in or the city scape we gaze over while commuting to work, architecture surrounds us and shapes the way we live.
When we’re home – something most of us have been doing a whole lot during the past year – it’s easy to become near oblivious to our surroundings. Same old, same old, day in, day out.
But when we travel, buildings and structures take on a whole new meaning. Flung into a new setting, surrounded by all that newness, our senses are open and we’re able to absorb and appreciate our surroundings, both natural and manmade in a whole new way.
Here, we take a look at some of the most iconic achievements in modern architecture and explore the way they’ve shaped the world we travel in.
Modern minimalism
One of hallmarks of modern architecture is a penchant for minimalism. The old adage “simplify, then add lightness“ describes the approach beautifully. The design approach emphasises simplicity in form and function alike. Surfaces are left sleek and unadorned and interior spaces are filled with natural light.
Villa Tugendhat in the Chez Republic
A statuesque example of the approach is the iconic Villa Savoye in Possy, France, designed by the famed Le Corbusier during the late 1920s. The sleek white villa has been hugely influential to modern architecture on a global scale. We definitely see more than a hint of Villa Savoye in Villa Ashoka and The Palm House, both of them located in Bali. The latter also bares a striking resemblance to the Mies van der Rohe designed Villa Tugendhat in the Czech Republic.
Villa Ashoka in Bali
The Palm House in Bali
Another highlight of the “less is more” approach is the sleek and seductive Barcelona Pavilion, built in 1929. Today, the building’s modern angles are echoed in Celadon, a carefully curated villa built on the lush hills of Koh Samui in Thailand.
Barcelona Pavilion in Spain
Celadon in Koh Samui
Similarly, the modern clifftop elegance exemplified by the Stahl House in Los Angeles is mirrored in the much-admired Samujana villa resort in Koh Samui.
Samujana Villas in Koh Samui
Endless windows
Modern architecture seeks to minimize clutter and maximize light and texture. It follows that many of the most iconic buildings feature seemingly endless stretches of glass – some of the most notable examples include the Philip Johnson designed Glass House and the iconic Farnsworth House designed by Mies van der Rohe.
Johnson’s Glasshouse has been so influential that it’s earned more than a few namesakes around the world. Niseko’s very own Glasshouse echoes the luminous design of the original, with spell-binding snow-covered views adding a unique Hokkaido twist. Closer to the equator, the scattered pavilions of Grand Villa Noi also give distinct nods to Johnson’s and van der Rohe’s original creations. The Loft cuts a particularly striking figure in Bali’s Ubud, an area dominated by traditional wooden architecture.
Glasshouse in Niseko
The Loft in Bali
Grand Villa Noi in Natai
Surrealist design
Though modern architecture emphasizes thoughtful minimalism, it can also play on more surrealist themes. And that is the beauty of architecture – it can set your imagination soaring by showing you what’s possible. On a global scale, the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan and Notre Dame du Ronchamp (again, designed by Le Corbusier) in France. Another example is, of course, the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku
Some of the most interesting contemporary takes on this surreal design approach include Iniala Penthouse in Thailand and the truly stunning (and aptly named) Villa Cloud in Bali.
Villa Cloud in Bali
Bold brutalist shapes
At the other end of the spectrum, architecture has the power of planting your feet staunchly down to earth. The brutalist approach emerged in the 1950s and is characterized by bold shapes and monolithic structures rendered in stark concrete. Some of the most prominent buildings of the movement include the Royal National Theatre in London and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego.
Royal National Theatre in London
You can sense the legacy of brutalist architecture while strolling down the snow-covered streets of Niseko, where austere concrete chalets are beautifully juxtaposed against mounds of fluffy powder snow. Check out our previous post for more on Niseko’s unique architectural landscape.
Kita Kitsune in Niseko
For more design inspiration, take a look at our favourite living room designs or be inspired by these luminous white villas.
