Which two movements significantly influenced modern architecture?

• A. Baroque and Rococo
• B. Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau
• C. Modernism and International Style
• D. Neoclassical and Deconstructivism

Answer: (C)

Modern architecture was fundamentally reshaped by a shift toward designing that prioritizes function, materials, and the elimination of unnecessary adornment. This mindset gave rise to a vocabulary of simple volumes, clean lines, and an honest use of new construction technologies like steel and reinforced concrete. That approach broadened the possibilities for mass production, standardized components, and flexible interior layouts, enabling buildings to respond more directly to use and context rather than historical or figurative decoration.

Building on those ideas, the International Style crystallized a global language around universal principles: unornamented facades, regular geometric forms, and the clear expression of structure through glass, steel, and concrete. It promoted open, flexible interiors and an emphasis on proportion and grids, helping architecture communicate a sense of efficiency and rationality that could travel across cultures and climates. Because these two movements collectively shifted what architecture could be and how it could be produced and perceived, they had the strongest, most far-reaching influence on the development of modern architecture.

The other options reflect important historical trends, but they do not map onto the decisive turn that defined modern architecture. They either belong to earlier or transitional styles or point to later, more experimental directions, rather than the broad, globally influential shift toward function-led design and a universal architectural language.