Art Nouveau Architectural Style

Building Materials Used in Art-Nouveau Architecture Art-Nouveau is a type of architecture popularized around the world between 1890 and World War 1. The literal translation of “Art Nouveau” is “New Art,” and that idea varied from region to region, although these variations were similar is their core purpose. Art Nouveau artists also wanted to elevate decorative arts (ceramics, furniture, metalwork, stained glass, etc.) to equality with fine arts like painting and sculpture. Art Nouveau stressed the importance of quality workmanship, good design even in utilitarian objects, and the idea that form follows function: that an object 's shape should reflect its purpose. The philosophy of Art Nouveau promoted the idea that all arts come together

“To truly understand any architectural style (and I am going to confine this essay to architecture),you have to see it in its context and, if you do this thoroughly with Art Nouveau, it shakes off the accusation of lack of robustness. It was born into the febrile atmosphere of the late nineteenth century, when the new confidence in science and rationalism fought with doubt and pessimism about the direction of civilization. Interjected into that was a powerful movement in much paintion, poetry, literature and philosophy toward anti-rationalism of one sort or another. At the same time, a particularly dangerous jingoism was on the rise, with accompanying demands for austerity and conformity. A radical new style- especially a flamboyant one with a clearly subversive stance- had to have osld underpinnings to emerge at all.” (Kellow). In Art-Nouveau Architecture there are many “flowing” lines, this time period was considered one of movement (Art Nouveau from a Historical Perspective). The lines are stationed everywhere: on walls, balconies, banisters, and more, the idea was to express movement throughout all of the architecture. The Art-Nouveau Architectural style was influenced greatly by Japanese art, therefore it contains a fair amount of nature: flowers, dragonflies, swans, ect. This curved, flowing style wasn 't only used on the

Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who lived during the Art-Nouveau era and created buildings of the Art-Nouveau style. “Seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona testify to Gaudí’s exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic, as well as a very personal, style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. The seven buildings are: Parque Güell; Palacio Güell; Casa Mila; Casa Vicens; Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of La Sagrada Familia; Casa Batlló; Crypt in Colonia Güell.” (Centre). Antoni Gaudi’s work always amazed those around him, his professors said he was genius to the point that they could have mistaken him for insane (Antoni Gaudí Biography). One very popular building by Antoni Gaudi is known as the Casa Batalló, located in Barcelona. The Casa Balló contains most of the aspects previously mentioned and catches many by surprise when they see