Lesson 11 Modern Architecture
Ex. l. Work with the vocabulary and find Russian equivalents to the words marked оut in the text "MODERN ARCHITECTURE"
Text A. Modern Architecture
Modern architecture is the term universally applied to the style of building, which evolved in a number of countries after the First World War as the International Style, or Functionalism, and which has culminated in the current designs of glass, concrete and steel based on module construction presently being erected all over the world.
In the early 20th century an instinctive desire of architects to break away from the confusions and contrivances of the 19th century, and their efforts to introduce a style which responded to new social needs and exploited new materials led to the changed appearance of buildings; simple rectangular outlines; avoidance of symmetry as a result of the insistence of a building's function determining its form rather than some picture in the architect's mind; absence of applied ornament; flat roofs and white walls, resulting from the use of reinforced concrete, now the favourite material; large windows, which new structural techniques permitted, but which were encouraged too by the spirit of the times, which believed in opening up the interiors of buildings to light and air.
The development of the International Style was reinforced by two events: a series of exhibitions at which architects from different countries saw and were influenced by each other's experiments, and the formation of an international organization through which ideas could be exchanged and mutual support enjoyed.
Exhibitions provided opportunities to explore an environment created wholly by modem buildings; they had been experienced only as single structures against an alien background.
The international organization was the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Modeme, known as CIAM. Founded in Switzerland in 1928, the organization lasted until 1959 and concerned itself especially with planning and the social role of architecture. During the period of ClAM's greatest influence, in the 1930s, among its members were most of the great architects of the day, including Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier and Alvar Aalto. Athens Charter is a manifesto published by the CIAM in 1933, setting out data and requirements connected with the problem of the modem city under 5 main headings: Dwelling, Recreation, Work, Transportation, Historic Buildings. The pioneers of modem design wanted to build constructions that reflected the modem age.
Until the 1930s, Germany was the main centre of the new architecture because of the presence there of another unifying institution, the Bauhaus, a college of design, established at Weimar by Walter Gropius in 1919. The Bauhaus became synonymous with modern teaching methods in architecture and the applied arts, and with a functional aesthetic for the industrial age.
In the yea's after 1945 the emphasis was on town-planning and housing, and in most countries also on legislation to control building in the public interest, in which activities Britain set the lead. This was the era of new towns, vast housing estates and attempts to gear building programmes both to social needs and to industrialized systems and techniques.
In matters of architectural style, it became less a question of conflict between period revival and modern design than between buildings designed for effect and those that aimed at the creation of a modem vernacular and a humane and harmonious environment.
Vocabulary to the text "Modern Architecture"
Alien ['eilj n] a чужой, чуждый, несвойственный
Contrivance [k n'traivns] n выдумка, затея, изобретение
Desire [di'zai ] n (сильное) желание желать, хотеть
Event [i'vent] n событие, важное явление, случай
Exchange [iks't eind ] v обменивать(ся), променять
Explore [iks'pl :] v исследовать, изучать, выяснять
Gear [gi ] v v приводить в движение, направлять по плану
Humane [hju:'mein] a человечный, гуманный
Legislation [,led is'lei n] n законодательство, законы
Matter ['m t ] n сущность, вещество, материал, материя
Mutual ['mjurtju 1] a взаимный, обоюдный, совместный
Permit [p 'mit] v позволять, разрешать
Vernacular [v 'n kjul ] a национальный, народный, местный
Wholly ['houli] adv целиком, полностью, совсем, вполне
Ex. 2. Answer the following questions to the text:
1. What is the term of modern architecture applied to?
2. What led to the changed appearance of buildings in the early 20th century?
3. What events reinforced the development of the International Style?
4. What opportunities did exhibitions provide?
5. What organization was founded in Switzerland in 1928?
6. What was the goal of CIAM?
7. What architects greatly influenced the development of architecture during the period of CIAM?
8. What 5 main headings were mentioned in the Athens Charter published in 1933?
9. Who established the Bauhaus?
10.What country was the leader of modern architecture in the years after 1945?
Ex. 3. Fill in the necessary modal verbs and translate the sentences:
l. The building ... be oriented towards the south. 2. Light colours ... have been used inside. 3. The walls ... (n't) have been faced with rough-hewn granite,... they? 4. In which style ... we build? 5. Decoration ... have been kept to a minimum. 6. ... the value of construction work be discussed? 7. The work... be done quicker and at less cost.
Ex. 4. Entitle all passages of the text "Modern Architecture"
Ex.5. Extract all irregular verbs from the text " Modern Architecture " And give their Tense and Voice forms
Ex. 6. Give synonyms to the following words and word-combinations
Building; current; to erect; in the early 20th century, desire; contrivance; to use;
favourite; large; formation; structure; town.
Vocabulary to the text "The Age of Revivals"
Array [ 'rei] n масса, множество, совокупность
Assert [ 's :t] v заявлять, утверждать
Be concerned with заниматься (чем-л.), касаться
Choose [t u:z] (chose, chosen) v выбирать, отбирать
Conscientiously [ k n I'en sli] adv сознательно
Dignified ['dignifaid] a достойный
Fancy ['f nsi] n воображение
Glitter ['glit ] v сверкать, блистать
Leisure ['Ie ] n досуг
Miscellany [mi'sel ni] n смесь
Owe [OU] V быть обязанным
Rival ['raiv 1] a соперничающий, конкурирующий
Stirring ['st :ri ] n активность, беспокойство
Vie [vai] v соперничать