Neo-Futurism

Neo-futurism emerges as a movement pushing boundaries in art, design and architecture.

Neo-futurism is a movement in art, design and architecture that has continued from the late 20th century through the early 21st century. It can be seen as a departure from post-modernism's approach and represents an idealist belief in a better future and in "the need to periodize modern relations technologically." This avant-garde movement is a futuristic rethinking of the aesthetics and functionality of rapidly growing cities. Industrialization beginning after World War II created new currents of thought in life, art and architecture, leading to the process that brought about post-modernism, neo-modernism and subsequently neo-futurism. In Western countries, futurist architecture has evolved into Art Deco, the Googie movement, high-tech architecture and most recently Neo-Futurism. Neo-futurist urban planners, architects, designers and artists believe in cities that express emotion by applying new materials and new technologies to provide eco-sustainability, ethical values and better quality of life for urban residents. The most important representative of this movement is Finnish-American architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen.

TWA Flight Center, USA

The TWA Flight Center at Trans World Airlines' John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, also known as the Trans World Airlines Flight Center, was designed by Eero Saarinen and opened as the original terminal in 1962. In Saarinen's original design, a distinctive thin shell roof in the shape of wings sits atop the main terminal. At the entrance, unusual tube-shaped departure and arrival corridors wrapped in red carpet and long windows provide expansive views for arriving aircraft. The concrete shell inspired Saarinen to develop a curved ceramic floor that conforms to the curved form. The design encompasses futurism, Googie and fantastic architecture. However, like many terminals designed before the emergence of jumbo jets, the TWA Flight Center struggled to adapt to new conditions such as increasing passenger traffic and security concerns as air travel evolved. In subsequent work, although some sections of the original complex were demolished, the central building designed by Saarinen was renovated and partially surrounded by a new terminal building completed in 2008.

Dulles International Airport, USA

Eero Saarinen, renowned for his innovative and sculptural forms in both architectural and furniture design, applied the same tilted and organic forms at Dulles International Airport outside Washington DC as he did in the TWA Terminal. Rapid growth in aviation following World War II resulted in the proposal and passage of the 1950 Washington Airport Act. Within this framework, none of the initially proposed sites for a second airport to be constructed were approved. Eventually, President Eisenhower selected a small town known as Willard as the best location for the airport in 1958. Renowned architect Eero Saarinen was appointed to design the main terminal, and engineering firm Ammann and Whitney became the project contractor. In Saarinen's selection, his ability to present an elegant beauty similar to the nature of flight was influential. When Saarinen faced the challenge of designing the terminal entrance, he had to create an articulated entrance to advance beyond a modern and repetitive structure. Renowned architect Kevin Roche worked in Saarinen's office during this project and through his contributions, the building's roof took on an elliptical form. This structure continues to command attention today with its contemporary and modern style.

Gateway Arch, USA

Gateway Arch is a 630-meter monument in St. Louis, Missouri. Built in the shape of an inverted, weighted catenary arch and clad in stainless steel, this structure is the tallest human-made arch in the world. Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1947, construction of this structure began on 12 February 1963 and was completed on 28 October 1965 at a cost of 13 million dollars (equivalent to 195 million dollars in 2016). The monument opened to the public on 10 June 1967. The monument is situated on the western bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Both the width and height of this massive arch are 630 feet (192 m). The arch is the tallest and longest stainless steel monument in the United States. The cross-sections of the arch's legs are equilateral triangles that taper from 54 feet (16 m) on each side at ground level to 17 feet (5.2 m) per side at the top. The interior of the monument is hollow and equipped with a tram system. In this way it provides visitors with a unique experience and an incredible city view from its small windows.

Kunsthaus Graz, Austria

Kunsthaus Graz, also known as Grazer Kunsthaus or Graz Museum of Art, was built in 2003 as part of celebrations marking Austria's Graz as European Capital of Culture and has since become an architectural landmark in the city of Graz. The museum's exhibition program specializes in contemporary art of the last four decades. Its unusual form radically departs from traditional exhibition contexts maintained by most modernist "White Cube" traditions. The team of architects employed an innovative stylistic idiom known as spotted architecture in the historic setting of Murvorstadt. Thus, the massive building, affectionately nicknamed a "Friendly Alien" by its creators Colin Fournier and Peter Cook, stands out in form and material against the Baroque roofscape that surrounds it. It has an organic shape with a skin made of gleaming blue acrylic panels. This striking building, which houses an important collection of contemporary and modern art in Europe, has the appearance of an extra-dimensional whale floating above Graz near the Mur River with its bio-morphic form. The facade of the building consists of more than 1,300 individually shaped plexiglass panels. Beneath this "transparent blue skin" surrounding the building lie 930 circular fluorescent light tubes. Each bulb functions as a pixel and can display messages, images and animations at a frequency of 18 frames per second.

City Hall, England

City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority (GLA), which comprises the London Assembly and the London Mayor's office. It is located on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge in Southwark. Designed by Norman Foster and opened in July 2002, two years after the establishment of the Greater London Authority, the building has an unusual, bulbous shape designed to reduce surface area and thereby increase energy efficiency. However, excessive energy consumption caused by the use of special double-facade glazing substantially reduces this energy efficiency advantage of the building. The claim that it would demonstrate "sustainable, nearly non-polluting public building potential" has proven incorrect. Energy consumption measurements in 2012 showed 375 kWh/m2/ year, allowing the building to achieve only an E Energy Performance Certificate level of performance.

Sources • Hal Foster, Annals of the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Issues 14-16, Published by The Architectural Association, London, 1987 • "Avant-Garde / Neo-Avant-Garde (Avant-Garde Critical Studies 17): Dietrich Scheunemann:9789042019256 • Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon.com. 2005-10-24. Retrieved 2014-01-17. • "10 of the Most Unusual Architectural Structures in Europe". TheRichest. Retrieved 22 October 2014. • "T.W.A.'s Hub Is Declared A Landmark". The New York Times, City Room, David W. Dunlap. • Facts About Washington Dulles International Airport". Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Retrieved June 3, 2011.