Modernist Architecture: 50 Modernist Architects and their Work

Modernist Architecture came into the world with the onset of industrialisation. With the invention of new materials and technology, the definition of architecture changed forever. As complex traditional buildings gave way to functional buildings, a lot of movements and ideologies emerged.  As each architect had his own set of theories it led to the construction of a wide variety of buildings throughout the globe. Here is a list of 50 modernist architects and their work.

1. Frank Lloyd Wright– Falling Waters, Pennsylvania (1939) | Modernist Architects

An icon of Organic architecture, built on a waterfall.

2. William Holabird And Martin Roche- Marquette Building, Illinois (1895) | Modernist Architecture

One of the first steel-frame skyscrapers, Chicago school of Architecture.

3. Joseph Paxton- Crystal Palace, London (1851) | Architects Works

An Exhibition Building used steel trusses for aesthetics.

4. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel- Eiffel Tower, Paris (1889)

A wrought-iron tower that glorifies the skyline of Paris

5. Antonio Gaudi-Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (2010) | Modernist Architects

A combination of Gothic and Art Nouveau.

6. Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe-Seagram Building, New York (1958)

Integrates elements of functional aesthetics with modern architecture.

7. Le Corbusier- Villa Savoye, Paris (1931) | Modernist Architecture

An Internationalist building that lists Le Corbusier’s “5 points”.

8. Walter Gropius- Fagus Shoe Factory, Alfred (1925) | Architects Works

Inspired by the Bauhaus school of Architecture.

9. Eric Mendelson- Einstein Tower, Potsdam (1921)

An astrophysical observatory depicts Expressionism.

10. Modern Architect Santiago Calatrava– City Of Arts And Sciences, Valencia (1998) | Modernist Architects

The iconic structure represents a giant eye.

11. Richard Meier– Barcelona Museum Of Contemporary Art, Barcelona (1995) | Modernist Architects

A pearl amongst the old Gothic architecture of Barcelona.

12. Michael Graves- Humana Building, Kentucky (1985)

Known as the “Milk Carton Building”, made out of pink granite.

13. M. Pei- Louvre Pyramid, Paris (1989) | Modernist Architecture

This glass and metal pyramid forms an entrance to the Louvre Museum.

14. Frank Gehry– Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (1980)

Deconstructivism building is made of stone, glass and titanium.

15. Bernard Tschumi- The New Acropolis Museum, Athens (2001) | Modernist Architects

Built at the feet of the Parthenon, stores the archaeological treasures of Acropolis.

16. Zaha Hadid– Heydar Aliyev Centre, Azerbaijan (2007)

Deconstructive building, consists of fluid curves

17. Norman Foster-Gherkin Tower, London (2003)

Skyscraper based on the principles of passive design strategies.

18. Rem Koolhaas- Cmg Headquarters, Beijing (2004) | Modernist Architecture

Due to its irregular shape, considered a structural marvel.

19. Peter Eisenman- Holocaust Memorial, Berlin (2004)

Built-in the memory of the Jews victims, has 2,711 concrete slabs in a grid pattern.

20. Cesar Pelli- The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur (1993) | Modernist Architects

These twin towers are amongst the tallest in the world.

21. Richard Rogers– The Pompidou Centre, Paris (1977) | Modernist Architects

The museum is built on the principles of High- Tech Architecture.

22. Modern Architect Tadao Ando– Modern Art Museum Of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas (1892)

Made out of concrete and glass, an important landmark.

23. Philip Johnson- Museum Of Modern Art, New York (1929) | Modernist Architecture

One of the most significant museums of modern art in the world.

24. Louis Kahn– National Parliament Building, Dhaka (1982)

One of the largest legislative buildings in the world.

25. Oscar Neymar– Cathedral Of Brasília, Brazil (1970) | Modernist Architects

A Hyperboloid structure is a Roman Cathedral.

26. Willian Van Allen- Chrysler Building, New York (1930)

An art deco skyscraper, tallest brick and steel building.

27. John Utzon- Sydney Opera House, Sydney (1973)

One of the most iconic buildings of the 20^th Century.

28. Renzo Piano- Whitney Museum Of American Art, Manhattan (1930) | Modern Architects Works

Consists of a network of galleries with cantilevered and public spaces.

29. Jean Nouvel- Louvre Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabhi (2017)

Inspired by the traditional Arab culture, a museum city floating on water.

30. Eero Saarinen- Gateway Arch, Missouri (1965) | Modernist Architects

A structural marvel which is a symbol of St. Louis.

31. Richard Neutra– Neutra Office Building, Los Angeles (1950) | Modernist Architects

The Studio of Neutra has gardens and residential complexes in the rare part of the complex.

32. Rudolph Schindler- Lovell Beach House, Los Angeles (1926)

An important landmark in the early modernist architecture of America.

33. Minoru Yamasaki- World Trade Centre, New York (1987) | Modernist Architecture

Consisted of seven buildings originally, the twin towers were the tallest in the world when built.

 34. Alvar Altao-Aalto Theatre Opera House, Essen (1988)

The design for this Opera house was selected by the means of an Architectural competition.

 35. Vladimir Shukhov, Shukhov Tower, Polibino(1896) | Modernist Architects

The world’s first Hyperboloid structure, an engineering marvel.

36. Paul Rudolf– Yale Art And Architecture Building, Connecticut (1963)

One of the first buildings of Brutalist Architecture in America.

37. Louis Sullivan– Prudential Building, New York (1896)

Now a historic landmark, based on Sullivan’s “Form Follows Function.”

38. William Le Baron Jenney– Home Insurance Building, Chicago (1885) | Modern Architects Works

First tall metal and steel-framed building, demolished in 1930.

39. Victor Horta- Hôtel Tassel, Belgium (1893)

First true Art Nouveau Building, characterised by whiplash lines.

40. Adolf Loos-Villa Müller, Prague (1930) | Modernist Architects

One of the first buildings to combine aspects of the economy with modernity.