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Essay / Tom Wolfe's Timeline of Architecture, From the Bauhaus to Our Home
From the Bauhaus to Our Home by Tom Wolfe successfully depicts the timeline of architecture that has been recorded throughout history. History is by definition “the study of past events, particularly in the human domain”. Architecture is constantly shaped by history, almost every structure has some sort of historical influence or inspiration. Wolfe argues that a false sense of ideology got in the way of the architect's common sense. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay In the book From Bauhaus to Our Home, a key theme is "starting from scratch", which essentially meant forgetting everything that 'they never knew. architecture and make something your own or create your own concept. As stated earlier, almost every structure that exists has some sort of influence, a starting point. “Starting from scratch” was what modernist architects believed they had to do to promote innovative ideas and create progression in architecture. Wolfe argues that people cannot be creative with inspiration. The “start from scratch” mentality is what led to structures such as the Bauhaus. The Bauhaus was created based on the socialist mentality. Mainly, concrete, flat roofs and lack of ornamentation and decoration. The Bauhaus was a response to industrialization and mass production. The Bauhaus was built for the society of equals and does not meet the needs of those who do not identify with the socialist party. The buildings that Wolfe deplores were all responses to the anti-bourgeois movement and were all bland structures compared to the earlier historical timeline of architecture. Wolfe also emphasizes the importance of innovation. Throughout history, many iconic structures draw on past cultural influences to create new and improved structures that are more functional and more pleasing to the eye. This is innovation at its best: learning from past mistakes. Architects have learned from their past mistakes throughout history, which has helped create the elaborate structures we see today. Architects learn from what has been built around them, as Wolfe said, architects are constantly making decisions based on "what to do" or "what not to do". In architecture, ideas are constantly around you. Even the basis of architecture is an idea. Architecture is “the complex or carefully designed structure of something”, there has to be a plan and to have a plan you have to evaluate past mistakes. The idea of “starting from scratch” is very difficult and virtually impossible to implement unless you reverse time and start from scratch. Wolfe's argument is that inspiration is necessary for creativity, otherwise the whole world would be nothing but metal and concrete. No creator can “start from scratch” because there is always something behind their idea that was made by someone else. Today's architects are inspired by the modernist architectural style and adapt to the environment given to them. Take the Guggenheim Museum for example, it’s an example of adaptation and creativity. Frank Lloyd Wright took inspiration from previous structures from the modernist period and built a unique avant-garde structure, drawing inspiration from the architecture of the past. This structure supports Wolfe's assertion that “starting from scratch” is simply impossible. Architects today are still creating new and innovative ideas influenced by the past while meeting modernist criteria. Even if he.