A House For Cheerful Living
an exploration of architectural representation in post-war housing competitions
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Abstract
Post-war housing competitions were held during the second World War to provide solution for the housing shortage. Looking at the drawings made for these competitions we can see that a similar style is used.
Through analysis and comparison of a drawing made by Jean Bodman and one made by Don Knorr, this thesis explores the similarities in drawing style. By comparing the education of the two architects we attempt to comprehend what could influence the similarities in drawing style.
The analyses shows that the drawing style and architectural style are similar, however a different emotion is depicted in the drawings. The fact that these architects were educated around the same period and were both mentored by famous modernist figures like Walter Gropius and Eero Saarinen is evidence for the similarities in drawing style. Furthermore, Norman and Donald worked both at SOM could also explain the similarities, while Norman also worked on the House for Cheerful Living project. However, it is difficult to say how the similarities came to be and if these arrived from related influences. The differences in depicted emotion could be explained by the fact that the drawings were made for a different audience.