East West Central
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Edited by:
Ákos Moravánszky
Europe’s architectural trends after 1945
The international authors of this three-volume work show Europe’s post-war architecture in a new light. In spite of geo-political divisions and national differences, the developments in East and West are seen in context for the first time – a mutual perception, the transfer of knowledge, and cooperation, opened avenues across boundaries. Each volume is dedicated to a leading subject and its unfolding across overlapping periods of time.
- Architectural parallels between different political systems in the history of Europe
- People, buildings, theories, rules – a synopsis with a new dimension
- Contributions by numerous international experts
Author / Editor information
Ákos Moravánszky, Torsten Lange, Judith Hopfengärtner, ETH Zürich
Karl R. Kegler, University of Applied Sciences Munich
After the Second World War, a divided Europe was much affected by a period of reconstruction. This was influenced by the different political systems – in the socialist East and in the capitalist West, the focus was on cohesion in society and its cultural and architectural expression. In parallel to the rapidly progressing industrialization of the building industry, debates on the humanization of the built environment were led on both sides with great intensity. The volume shows how, on the back of existentialism, new monumentality, and socialist realism, quite similar concepts and strategies were developed in order to find answers to questions relating to adequate structures for new forms of community and identity.
From 1960–1980, both eastern and western Europe experienced a construction boom of new dimensions. Cybernetics, the science of planning, and sociology, as well as the new possibilities offered by technology and production, paved the way to large-scale processes and systems in architecture and urban design, which favored technocratic and utopian concepts. Increasingly, architects and planners saw themselves as designers of comprehensive infrastructure and mega-structures in a technology-focused world.
The authors assesses these developments on the back of a knowledge transfer between East and West. It confirms a change in attitude that can still be felt today – recession, social changes, and environmental problems led to criticism of the then contemporary concepts of modernity.
From 1970–1990, architecture experienced a revision as part of the post-modern movement. The critical attitude to the functionalistic Moderne style and the influence of semiotics and philosophical trends, such as phenomenology, on architectural theory led to an increased interest in its history, expression, perception, and context. In addition, architectural heritage and the care of architectural monuments gained importance.
This development also increasingly challenged the ideologically based division between East and West. Instead of emphasizing the differences, the search was for a joint cultural heritage. The contributions in this volume question terms such as "Moderne" and "post-modern", and show how architecture could again represent local, regional, and national identity.
