Form Follows Function: A Statement Taken too far

This research article examines the study of the philosophy behind the statement "Form Follows Function", its relation to modernist architecture and its interpretation in contemporary architecture. It explains the basic principles of this philosophy, which began with the work of Louis Sullivan and how this statement actually came into existence. It defines the basic terms and vocabulary of this philosophy. It identifies the concepts of this philosophy that were transferred to architecture and became the basis of modernist architectural style. Modernist projects and buildings are very functional and lack any kind of ornamentation. The “transfer” of the concepts of form follow function to architecture was very direct and literal, this is the reason why it isn't suitable for the contemporary world. Moreover, the time when this statement was given was the time when world war one had just taken place and a fast and low funded restoration of infrastructure was needed. There is not any such kind of need in the contemporary world. The technology has advanced to such an extent that the functions can be fit into even the strangest forms which us to experiment. enables The focus is now more on the forms and the aesthetics which has been highly employed in the deconstructivist style. The new concept of adaptive reuse cannot be employed in the modernist architecture which is a big disadvantage. Keywords: form, function, modernism, post modernism