Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing
This paper examines the development of a modernist aesthetic in the architecture of the western United States of America in the period between 1920 and 1950 in which the European fascination with the universal in both space and culture, is coupled with the nascent American fascination with nature an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lincoln University
2004-06-01
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| Series: | Landscape Review |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/145 |
| _version_ | 1797283070605262848 |
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| author | Eleanor Weinel |
| author_facet | Eleanor Weinel |
| author_sort | Eleanor Weinel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper examines the development of a modernist aesthetic in the architecture of the western United States of America in the period between 1920 and 1950 in which the European fascination with the universal in both space and culture, is coupled with the nascent American fascination with nature and health. The environment of California, both meteorological and social, presented a consistent and temperate climate as the vision of a new Eden, not only physically benign but also metaphysically innocent and accepting, unfettered by Lapsarian moralism. The resulting Myth of Nature was based less on the Romantic idea of the noble savage than on the personal benefits of the healthy life as promulgated by the likes of Dr Philip Lovell and the two houses designed for him. Rooted in the tradition of hygiene, this revised 'Myth' involved fresh air and sunshine, not as pleasures, but as key ingredients of healthy existence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:25:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0788431a257429dbdbc62641101ee9c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1173-3853 2253-1440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:25:43Z |
| publishDate | 2004-06-01 |
| publisher | Lincoln University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Landscape Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0788431a257429dbdbc62641101ee9c2024-03-02T19:19:40ZengLincoln UniversityLandscape Review1173-38532253-14402004-06-0191139Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost NothingEleanor WeinelThis paper examines the development of a modernist aesthetic in the architecture of the western United States of America in the period between 1920 and 1950 in which the European fascination with the universal in both space and culture, is coupled with the nascent American fascination with nature and health. The environment of California, both meteorological and social, presented a consistent and temperate climate as the vision of a new Eden, not only physically benign but also metaphysically innocent and accepting, unfettered by Lapsarian moralism. The resulting Myth of Nature was based less on the Romantic idea of the noble savage than on the personal benefits of the healthy life as promulgated by the likes of Dr Philip Lovell and the two houses designed for him. Rooted in the tradition of hygiene, this revised 'Myth' involved fresh air and sunshine, not as pleasures, but as key ingredients of healthy existence.https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/145 |
| spellingShingle | Eleanor Weinel Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing Landscape Review |
| title | Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing |
| title_full | Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing |
| title_fullStr | Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing |
| title_short | Western Modernism and the Myth of Nature: The Architecture of Almost Nothing |
| title_sort | western modernism and the myth of nature the architecture of almost nothing |
| url | https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/145 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eleanorweinel westernmodernismandthemythofnaturethearchitectureofalmostnothing |