1) Globalisation of Modern Architecture: The Impact of Politics, Economics and Social Change on Architecture and Urban Design since 1990, by Adam, Robert (2012). [electronic resource] (pp. 7-29)

It is very important to understand how architecture has developed over time and how its principles were globalised, in order to comprehend its values in today’s modern society.  It is interesting, from this reading, to understand exactly how with power and religion came cultural change and how this affected architectural movement. 

The enlightenment period challenged narrow-minded emphasis on tradition and suggested movement towards reason and individualism. This reformed society and challenged ideas grounded in tradition and faith. Coupled with scientific advances, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity, the development of cinema, the first flight, cars replacing horse and cart and many more improvements, architecture also began to evolve with more artistic designs which were not simply formed by engineering (such as Daniel Burnham’s Flatiron Building).  Reflecting on this reading, a huge influence of globalisation and modernity of architecture revolved around framing the newly developed governments post war, sculptured around communism and modernity.

In relation to my work and the present day, it is important to learn from these developments and how structures such as The Bauhaus, which was controversial and subsequently shut down, later became one of the most influential currents in modern design and created a work in which all arts were brought together.  This emphasises that architectural ideas should not be set in the present and current way of thinking, but may delve into the past of tradition and also ideas of new developments and modernity.