Mediterranean Islands’ Vernacular Architecture and the Origin of Modern Architecture

Abstract

This paper highlights the relationship between Modern Architecture in central European countries and vernacular architecture of Mediterranean islands, specifically in three locations: the island of Ibiza, Capri and the Aegean Islands, during the birth and development of Modern Architecture. In particular it studies some selected central European (German and Austrian) and Mediterranean architects (Italian, Spanish and Greek), who looked for a new formal language in order to find the key to the new habitational needs of that time. For that purpose, this work analyzes the personal experiences that those architects had, visiting the Islands, and the impressions that they got, knowing nearer the characteristics of this vernacular architecture. Our aim is to determine what role this vernacular architecture played in the development of these architects’ works and how it was assumed and assimilated by them during the time in which Modern Architecture was developed.