The International Style arises from converging ideas of early 20th century architects in Germany, France, and Holland. This group believes that the development and implementation of modern materials and construction methods including reinforced concrete and steel, demands a new architectural interpretation both for new building types, such as public housing and existing ones, like private dwellings. Instead of reinventing the past or maintaining the status quo, modernist architects challenge traditional ways of designer and construction methods and look for ways to improve life through modern architecture. Additionally, the enormous upheavals and devastation of World War I engender widespread disillusion with European politics and culture, including the Beaux-Arts tradition and architecture. This, in turn, reinforces the earlier idea of architectural style that expresses modern life and makes good design available to everyone. Many designers see an architecture that is functional, rational, and efficient, like the machine, as a key means of transforming European culture by democratizing design and creating new ways of living and working for a modern industrial society. These ideas also extend into interior planning and furniture.
