THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Architecture of the Early 2oth Century is notable for radical new types of steel-and-glass buildings - particularly skyscrapers - and the widespread us of steel-reinforced concrete.

The steel-framed skyscraper was pioneered in Chicago in the 1880s but did not become widespread until the first decades of the 20th century.

As construction techniques were refined, skyscrapers became higher and higher; for example, the Empire State Building of 1929-1931 has 102 storeys.

Many buildings of this period were constructed from lightweight concrete slabs, which could be supported by cantilever beams or by pilotis (stilts), as in the Villa savoye.

The early 20th century also produced a great variety of architectural styles, some of which are illustrated opposite. Despite their diversity, the styles of this period generally had one thing in common; they were completely new, with few links to past architectural styles.

This originality is in marked contrast to 19th century architecture much of which was revivalist.