3/4/13: The Birth of
Standards
AEG Turbine Factory,
Peter Behrens
Peter
Behrens made architectural history by being appointed to supervise and improve
the company AEG’s products and buildings.
This was the first time an artist was given this kind of control over a
large corporation’s major assets, and Behrens wasted no time making
changes. This turbine factory he
designed followed Louis Sullivan in his “form follows function” as it was
designed to accommodate both manufacturing of products as well as the working
conditions of the workers. The rounded
top on and massive appearance of the roof gives the building a large and
monumental feeling (which would be ideal for a large company) actually masking
a surprisingly lightweight building made mostly of steel and glass. Behrens made his mark on history with AEG,
but also helped usher forth the new concept that companies could make large,
well planned buildings that would not necessarily be more expensive and would
help in the long run both economically and image wise. This fell into the then emerging importance
of public image for large companies, which helped them build up affluence as
well as garner a larger reputation. By
incorporating an artist into their plans, companies would start the practice of
ethics and standards.
Behren’s Influence Today:
Small Bio on Behrens:
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