Vielfalt der Moderne (Diversity of modernism).
For me this term characterizes architecture in the years between 1900 and 1935.
In these few decades so much has happened, so many different styles of building have been experimented with – it never stops fascinating me.
Careful consideration of history, region and location seems essential to me; the sole yardstick of the spectacular does not do justice to the variety of expressions in the architecture of that time.
This website presents the known and documented as well as the more or less forgotten buildings and architects and is continuously updated.
The overview reveals an astonishing variety of design concepts, which often cannot be assigned to any particular style, but is characterized by hybrid tendencies, stylistic influences, upheavals as well as mixed forms.
Regional differences in construction, design, use of materials and stylistics play just as decisive a role as the uncertain pluralism of the 1920s and the still young democracy in the Weimar Republic, which is also reflected in the broad spectrum of architectural and artistic designs.
In addition to functionalism and new objectivity of the architects of Neues Bauen, there were a number of alternative approaches to the task of developing architecture appropriate to the new, democratic society.
In the 1920s, in Germany alone, Hans Scharoun´s organic building, the colorful projects of Bruno Taut, the masonry work of the Stuttgart School, Fritz Höger´s brick expressionism as well as the plaster buildings of the Postbauschule in Bavaria developed.
The many facets of modern architecture range from an industrially oriented, avant-garde modernism to a moderate modernism and the numerous varieties of expressionism.
In addition, there are the predecessor buildings of Art Nouveau and German Reform Architecture, which paved the way for modernism and became essential impulses for its later development.
Within only 35 years, a multitude of different and expressive building forms unfolded, which are worth viewing, discussing and documenting.