It’s a phrase that’s debated widely in architectural circles: Form Follows Function. But what does it really mean?
The origins of this phrase came from Louis H. Sullivan, in his article “The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered.” (Lippincott’s Magazine 57, March 1896.) In it, Sullivan’s full phrase “form ever follows function” explains that in nature, the function of something dictates its form.
In modern architecture, “form follows function”, or FFF has come to mean that the shape of an object or building should prioritize its intended use, purpose, or function. This ensures that the structure has efficient and practical spaces available. In modern architecture, this usually includes clean lines, minimal ornamentation, efficiency, and frequently, open floor plans. This reflects the building’s functionality and embraces simplicity and utility over an elaborate and extravagant design.
While the principle began as one in architecture, it is now widely applied in diverse uses such as consumer products, automotive design, software engineering, and website design.
Louis Sullivan
While architect Louis Sullivan is usually credited with coining this phrase, he wasn’t the first to discuss the concept. Sullivan first used the phrase in his 1896 magazine article The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered. In it, Sullivan discusses the creation of modern office buildings, the need for them, and building them according to their function and reflect the use of the space. As people migrated from rural areas into cities, housing became scarce, requiring places like New York City to build tall new buildings to house more residents.
Sullivan’s point is that the building’s eventual use should be the starting point for its design. During his lifetime, the “office” came to be commonplace, and space was needed for workers. His steel-framed buildings were the first incarnation of the original “skyscraper” office buildings.
Previous incarnations of office buildings involved the neoclassical style popular at the time, but they were not completely suitable for their purpose. Instead of putting a building design into an existing aesthetic, Sullivan argued, architects should flip the equation. Focusing on the purpose of the building leads the architect to the design. Despite unacceptance during his lifetime, Sullivan’s FFF principles became the norm, and are still used today.
Frank Lloyd Wright
As a young architect, Frank Lloyd Wright worked for Sullivan in his Chicago architecture firm and believed as Sullivan did. However, he extrapolated Sullivan’s phrase into “form and function are one.”
One of Wright’s most famous projects is the Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue in New York City. You can learn more about Wright’s ideas and the Guggenheim Museum on their website, along with teaching materials.
Modern architects understand FFF and use it when designing a new project. Whether a new home, commercial property, or an artistic structure like a museum, the structure’s eventual end use is an ideal starting point for any design.
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