ARCHITECTURE OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY is notable for radical new types of
steel-and-glass buildings—particularly skyscrapers—and the widespread use of
steel-reinforced concrete. The steel-framed skyscraper was pioneered in Chicago
in the 1880s, but did not become widespread until the first decades of the 20th
century. As construction techniques were refined, skyscrapers became higher
and higher; for example, the Empire State Building (right) of 1929-1931
has 102 storeys. Many buildings of this period were constructed from
lightweight concrete slabs, which could be supported by cantilever
beams or by pilotis (stilts), as in the Villa Savoye (below). The
early 20th century also produced a great variety of architectural
styles, some of which are illustrated opposite. Despite their
diversity, the styles of this period generally had one thing in
common: they were completely new, with few links to past
architectural styles. This originality is in marked contrast to 19thcentury
architecture , much of which was revivalist
