Art Deco (Palais de Chaillot)

also the first truly global style, and it expressed the aspirations and technical capabilities of the Modern age. The Palais de Chaillot is an excellent example of this sleek and streamlined style.

Modernism

This was really a social theory developed via architecture. The Modern Movement wanted to make society better prepared to meet the challenges of the modern era. Developed by architects such as Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier in the first few decades of the 20th century, it wanted to eradicate historicism, ornament and anything that might distract from the business of living. It embraced innovations from industry and emphasised efficiency and hygiene to create ‘machines for living in’. It was also known as the International Style.

Modernist buildings invariably used reinforced-concrete frames and were fitted with vast areas of glass. Their interiors were usually uncluttered. The style was popular for skyscrapers, and with the designers of social housing, particularly in the aftermath of World War II. It came to be criticised later in the 20th century for being too sterile and unresponsive to local context. Paris is home to some magnificent examples of the style in the form of two private villas by Le Corbusier, now home to the Fondation Le Corbusier, and the Maison de Verre by Pierre Chareau.

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