The glass and metal appeal of modern homes and commercial buildings came into popularity in the years following World War II. Originally, modern architecture was more a social movement rooted in political rhetoric; form and function were more statement than artistry. Amid the ruins of war torn Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, there came into being the Bauhaus, a school for artist that included architectural pursuits. The “school motto” was Start from Zero.

Such notables as Mies Van der Rohe and Walter Gropius came to represent the modern architectural movement. The politics behind the movement were a complex weave of anti-war sentiments, socialism and machine age glorification.

These sentiments were embodied in basic materials such as concrete and stone, glass and metal. The function of space was to function as space, providing only that which man needed. The styling of traditional architecture, from gabled roofs to corbels to stained glass windows were eschewed. Windows were designed to allow in light and heat. Roofs were designed to protect the inhabitants from the elements. Any ornamentation was superfluous. Basic spaces to meet basic needs.

After World War II, the basic rectangular form that functioned as modern architecture became more appealing to the populations of the now super industrialized West. All things modern were considered desirable, and modern architecture as seen today came into its own.

Though still lean in design, current forms of modern architecture have become more stylized, particularly in residential design. Roofs with one-sided slopes to encourage passive heat flow, rectangular structures with interior curved walls to encourage air distribution throughout, and honest materials of reclaimed wood, concrete and stone all find their way into modern architecture.

The form of the structure itself becomes the ornamentation of the style. Though originally boxy and cubicle in nature, modern design now follows the land’s contours while still retaining basic geometric structure. The results are decidedly non-traditional, yet are decidedly different from the intentions of the founders of Bauhaus.

The idea behind their rally cry of Start from Zero was one of a deconstructionist ideal. The founders wanted to take apart all that had come before and reconstruct architecture, and indeed societies, to suit a leaner, more streamlined way of living.

The simplification of living spaces by eliminating ornamentation and making no effort to hide the origins of materials and craftsmanship was, and remains, the primary characteristic of modern architecture. But that modern architecture has become a stylish and exclusive design for those who can afford such homes would surely disturb the socialist thinking of Walter Gropius and the followers of Bauhaus design.

When I was touring northern Italy and Spain I was struck by the timeless beauty of wrought-ironworks, fashioned out of the architecture of the buildings and into the garden trellises. It was not so much the ornate details that I found so interesting as I found the strength and durability of the material to be: it tested time, only growing more attractive. Later, back in the U.S.A. and practicing my profession as a Landscape Architect I found that wrought-iron was not often affordable except in only the most selective of projects (i.e. those with very, fat budgets).
I did design my share of wooden and hollow-tube trellises over the years but I was always looking for a material that would capture the essence of wrought-iron and at an affordable price. That is when I began experimenting with REBAR (reinforced iron for concrete building footings).

Rebar comes in a variety of diameters and surface patterns, usually in 20 foot lengths. It is the ‘poor cousin’ of construction-metals exclusively finding its’ way into concrete pours to reinforce the structural value of footings, walls and flat surfaces. I have not seen it utilized for much else.

There are quite a few good reasons why rebar works well as a trellis building material. Personally, I like the way it looks, it reminds me of Sahuaro Ribs and Ocotillo sticks used in the Southwest. It also takes on the look of knotty pine poles as well. Part of its attraction is that the knobby surface catches the light in a play of shadows throughout the day (and also in the nightime with directed, accent lighting).

Rebar does not have to be treated or painted; it looks best in its natural state of surface rust. It can, however, stain tile or fabric beneath it. In a rainy climate it is a good idea to spray a mat-sealer over those areas that may drip. Most landscape surfaces, however, are durable enough to handle these occasional drips. On one occasion we had the rebar elements, powder-coated with bright colors to go with the festive character of the project (powder coating is baked-on paint, like on a automobile). I do not recommend this treatment because of its expense but it does have its uses.

Although rebar does not sculpt well as wrought iron will, it can be bent within certain limits. In fact, the bending of the rebar can be best taken care of at the rebar yard itself, (look under rebar suppliers in the yellow pages). They receive

specifications from building contractors for all sorts or shapes and configurations to accommodate their building footings etc. They usually raise an eyebrow to such requests eg. rebar stock bent for a trellis, but more often than not they get into the spirit of the project and appreciate the change of pace.

I once designed and built a rebar trellis that we named “Double-Helix”, a vine trellis; the curve linear shapes of the trellis’s roof-line created a shadow of a double helix on the ground. You also saw the double helix form when walking by the trellis. Naturally, you can build a rebar trellis out of straight pieces of rod as well and eliminate the bending. A really nice look is to use different diameter rebar sticks and place them alongside one another in a descending pattern. They can also be cut to different lengths and also be placed in a descending pattern. It is really up to your imagination or that of your designer and landscape contractor.

Some of the ’straight-rod’ rebar trellises that we have designed and built were topped with another interesting material i.e. sheets of reinforced, metal used to reinforce concrete driveways. These sheets generally come in 7 foot widths and vary in lengths, of about 10 feet. Their box pattern is usually in 4 inch squares; this allows for plenty of air flow and a chance for the vines to trail throughout the webbing.

Lastly, anchoring a rebar trellis to the ground is quite simple. Basically all you need to do is to dig a 2 foot or better deep hole, set the rebar leg into it and pour your concrete mixture around it. You can also integrate all or part of the trellis’s legs into a patio wall, if the overall architectural design of the house and garden will benefit from this application. Naturally, have your construction details reviewed by your licensed landscape contractor.

There is a connection from the classical days of the design of building to the modern day style. In the overall decision of the design, the whole inside to the outer accessibility area to include common, modern day, and casual access, but in timed sequenced. Making available the areas of use for whatever purpose chosen, in the designated parts of the building. This accessibility includes the population of the area surrounding the building; availability of such a resource is a step towards combining a highly technological possibility, with a social aspect. By integrating and applying a technological implementation, to include a larger mass of people, is in need of the insights of the many different degrees of intuitional thinking. A process that should, as a principal include the natural light of the sun, as a devised source of the natural habitual construction of the design.

Architecture is a perspective in one view, of what is considered contemporary art. The style or design of the homes across the market that has a demand or need of the usually accepted form of what is considered, “enough.” This is a reflection of the society based value system that could be utilized for a broader understanding of living within proximity of others. There is a thread of the institutional factors of the development of the higher ends of society. Which spends on the majority of the manufacturing singularities, which is a process that includes the debts, in the amount spread out in the purchases, such as homes.

In a concept, architecture can be a reflection on the historical value that brought the first inclusion of art into the creation of buildings. In this art integrated type of creating a building was a combination; with what was held as important to the people,

who were in relation to the structures. The connection to the economy of a city, and, or the rulers of the nation, and to the creators, was a valued construction that was symbolic for the accomplishments of a technological state of the art, design.

In knowing the relation to human life and the good emotional states provided by the natural world, invites a concept for the environment of a habitual atmosphere, to be a vital reason for life in the design. This is according to the mass numbers of people that are spread out across the world, but have a certain place where they call home. The place from where they originated in decent of ancestry heritage. The inclusion of a place for the goodness of living, can be as the commonwealth of investment of a society, that can respect the artistry of architecture, as a place of healthy living in relation to the other life forms in the natural environmental surrounding.

Looking to the history of then, when the days of living was as though the king kept the city, and gave the protection of the people in his care. As too the surrounding area was in relation towards the other people in the environmental relation towards other nations of the area. Why should a government provide material to other countries, when the government can construct the buildings, and be in the development plans of a whole situated place, that is available for accessibility, for commercial, recreational, and habitual living? Instead of taxing people and major corporations – in fractions – when where those industries and individuals invest in the markets of other countries, and are accumulating billions of net worth each year?

Architecture has the value in the accessibility of common living in relation to the structure of time in the availability of the quality of life. Being able to live in an integrated area, that is, in a concept of homes and the buildings of development, is an investment for the health of a community and a larger whole of society.

Today people can look back and see the integration of society, at the time of the constructed architectural building of magnificent artistry. The modern day style of building, is in a transitional state of awakening, to the mass market of the many billions more of people, now alive today around the world. Including the same freedoms depicted in the creation of the most magnificent buildings has a connection to the ever-closing fast paced future of economical arising construction of habitual designs. Can the new forms of buildings, which, could be built with the availability of the material from the very government, that, could provide the accessible tools, be used for the collaboration or individual and personal approach of designs?

In the aspect of the individual and personal approach the architecture of a home should have the geometrical beauty of the natural sunlight being accessible for the person who is building the home. Major projects of construction should reflect the personal design of homes; the architectural blueprint should be effective in every space created. The future is a place of vast possibilities and the architect of buildings to hold masses of people, can be an accessible and available places of society integrated interaction of schooling, work, and recreational activities.

In the opposite subjection, the housing of the masses of people can be an isolating closed in and degrading dark place that can seem like in all absolution as a penitentiary for the whole of society and the individual soul. The solution is in the design of a plan, and in the creation of freedom in the basis of what is considered and implemented as important. When accounting for the larger scores of people who could benefit in the production of architectural buildings, that is possible with the ever increasing technological advancements in the creation of buildings that are both: accessible, and available.

The past shows of many great artistries of then modern man, today shows the evolution of the creations and in the materials used in the constructions. Tomorrow things get refined and there are even more breakthroughs, in the state of the art of architectural design and building. Examining the history and seeing how the created designs, had their place in the valued system of the people then. To now the influence, shows that the political and religious sectors were involved in the concepts that first started as a line from a pencil on a paper and became the cities of today, designed on a blueprint.