Modern architects design buildings in a utilitarian style with a lack of ornamentation. The movement began in the early 20th century and became dominant post-WWII. Modern architects typically work on commercial and institutional buildings, with famous modernists including Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. Modern architecture reflects ideas about technology and modernity, with architects taking a functionalist approach to design. To become a modern architect, a bachelor’s degree in architecture is required, with many going on to pursue a master’s and other professional training. Architects must also be licensed and meet continuing education requirements.
A modern architect designs buildings and structures in a modern style. Modern style, also known as modernism or “international style”, is associated with utilitarian design and a lack of ornamentation. The modernist movement in architecture began in the early 20th century and became the dominant style in the post-World War II period. Since the 1970s, the dominance of modernism has waned and the diversity of styles practiced by contemporary architects has increased.
While any structure can have a modern design, modernism is especially associated with skyscrapers and corporate and institutional buildings. For this reason, a modern architect typically works on commercial and institutional buildings rather than single-family homes. These projects are often taken over by large architectural firms and designed by a team of architects, even when a famous modern architect oversees and takes credit for the design.
There are many famous modern architects. Some of the most influential modernists were Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius of the Bauhaus school in Germany, Le Corbusier in France, and Frank Lloyd Wright in the US. Other well-known modern architects include Philip Johnson, Oscar Niemeyer, the Skidmore firm, Owings and Merrill, Alvar Aalto and Robert Venturi.
Modern architecture is associated with ideas about technology and modernity that are reflected in the buildings themselves. Modern architects often take a functionalist approach to design, putting form after function. They strive to eliminate ornamentation and evoke streamlined forms while expressing the structure of the building in the design.
Like other architects, modern architects must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture, which typically takes five years to complete. Many modern architects will go on to pursue a master’s and other professional training. While virtually all architecture programs offer some training in modern architecture, students who want to focus on this might consider programs with strengths in modern architecture or internships at companies known for their modern design aesthetic.
In most cases, professional architects in the US must be licensed by passing the architect registration exam. The exam covers many different areas and is usually taken in modules over a number of years. Once licensed, architects must maintain their certification by meeting continuing education requirements designed to keep them current on building codes, engineering advances, and construction techniques. Each state and territory in the US has its own rules regarding architectural licensing requirements.
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