The concepts of transparency, honesty in materials, and a fascination with the aesthetics of industry can all be traced to modern architects. High-tech architecture, much like modernism, shares a belief in a "spirit of the age" that should be incorporated and applied throughout each building. The influence of Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Mies van de Rohe is extensive throughout many of the principles and designs of high-tech architecture.
Contemporary architects have been influenced by concepts such as openness, authenticity in materials, and a passion for the visual appeal of industry. High-tech architecture, like modernism, emphasizes the importance of capturing the essence of its era and incorporating it into every aspect of a building. The work of Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Mies van de Rohe has had a profound impact on the development of high-tech architecture.