modernist

[Cf. F. moderniste.]

1. One who admires the moderns, or their ways and fashions.

2. An advocate of the teaching of modern subjects, as modern languages, in preference to the ancient classics.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

1. Architectural style of the 1920s and 1930s incorporating decorative devices that owed not a little to Art Deco, Aztec, and Ancient Egyptian styles, prompted by the 1925 Paris Exhibition. Among the commoner motifs were chevrons, canted and corbelled ‘arches’, medallions, wave-scrolls, flutings, mouldings stepped over surfaces, and geometrical patterns. Colours were vivid, influenced by artefacts discovered in Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, so blacks, vermilions, greens, yellows, blues, and lots of gilt and chrome were de rigueur, often in enamels and even glazed openings. Modernistic buildings (as they are often called) also incorporated streamlining and curved walls. A good example of a Modernistic building is the former Hoover Building, Western Avenue, London (1931–8), by Wallis, Gilbert, & Partners.

2. Person subscribing to the doctrine and principles of the Modern Movement.

Bibliography

• Benton et al. (eds.) (2003)
• Lewis & Darley (1986)
• Hitchmough (1992)

The full bibliography for this book is available to download as a pdf file.
Download the bibliography for A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (PDF: 1.2MB)