INT331MV

 Mid-Century Modernism  In this week’s lectures and notes, we focused on mid-century modernism in America. Major characteristics of this time include flat roofs, glass facades, open floor plans, the connection from inside to outside, a-symmetry and earthy tones in architecture, and fun bright colors in furniture.   Joseph Eichler was a designer of this time (1900-1974) who started in the residential realm as a real estate agent. After he studied some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work he became inspired and decided to become a designer himself. Qualities of his homes include open floor plans, glass, concrete, and low-sloped roofs. His structures are minimal and look almost like commercial buildings with their low-sloped to flat roofs yet still give a residential feel through the use of landscape. Another designer of this time was Eero Saarinen, an architect and industrial designer who studied at Yale. Although he designed in the modern era, his designs reflected the needs a...

 Modernism in America As we move through history the spread of culture quickened due to the advances of technology. These modern advances helped spread modernism over the globe and introduced the new style at a faster pace than previous design strategies. Another factor that played into the spread of modernism to America was World War II which was taking place in Europe at the time. May European people fled to America to escape the war and with them, they brought their culture and ways of living. Although modernism was already introduced at this time, it shifted from theoretical and idealistic to practical and applied. A designer who embodies modernism, and one we have talked about in previous lectures, is Frank Lloyd Wright. In post-war his work was minimal but shifted to fit the new definition of modernism. In his later work, his style is still evident and lacks the minimalistic modernism that we see from Mies Van Der Rohe or Le Corbusier. Here he still incorporates some deta...

The Rise of the Interior Decorator During this time the World’s Fair started to recognize and categorize the difference between a functionalist and a decorator. According to our text, a functionalist focused on the form and theory of a structure. A decorator chooses decorations such as furniture, colors, textures, and any object that would occupy a space. Since then, the term interior designer was born to differentiate the roles of an architect and interior designer. Interior decorators oversaw choosing appropriate furnishings that fit the needs of the home and a client, who were mostly wealthy upper class. Three designers we focused on this week are Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper, and Billy Baldwin. Elsie de Wolfe was an American actress who changed her career path to follow her passion for designing. Throughout her career, she designed many homes and published “The House of Good Taste.” She built her style based on the needs of a client because she believed a home should reflect...

Art Deco As we move along in the interior design world, we come to a point around 1925 where some wanted to continue the modern style, while others wanted to pay tribute to characteristics that are seen in Art Nouveau. Due to this conflict, the Art Deco era was born and harnessed both modernism through modern building materials, and styles that ruled before modernism, such as art nouveau, through decoration.  One of the biggest influences on the Art Deco style was the Industrial Revolution. The use of modern building materials allowed for buildings to be larger and taller. Furniture of the art deco style reflects these skyscraper skylines through stepping profiles and zig-zag details all while also using modern materials to construct the furniture, such as tables, sofas, and lamps.  After studying designers of this time such as Michel Roux-Spitz, Jean Dunand, Jean Michel Frank, and many more, I noticed a trend in their approach to design. Most of the furniture designs show cha...

 The Emergence of Modernism This week we learned that the emergence of modernism began in the early 1900s. Modernism was needed at the turn of the century and possible to be done through the technological advances that were introduced at this time. This daunting style took off following World War I, which in my opinion, gave a new fresh outlook for people to enjoy after a long treacherous war. With this new look, many people could leave the war in the past and start a new refreshing life with a different interesting design style. A major influence of the modern style, which we have the honor to visit some of his most famous pieces of work, is Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright is much like John Hughes: a creator that Chicago is known for and will always be associated with. Born and raised in the Midwest, Wright has designed many residential homes in the Chicago land area. These homes include the Winslow House, the Prairie House, the Robie House, and public spaces like Unity Temple. His...

 Protomodernism As we move forward through the history of design, this week we studied the protomodernism era, which was a precursor for modern architecture and interior design. Our textbook states this time tied traditional and modern design together. The modern simplicity didn’t lack decoration yet highlighted the sporadic decorations that were seen. Famous designers such as Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffmann, and Adolf Loos, were known for their “avant-garde” work, meaning they were a part of a group of artists who experimented with shapes and forms to make unorthodox designs. Otto Wanger was an architect, urban planner, teacher, and writer who was a key figure in the pre-modern movement. Educated at the Viennese Polytechnic Institute and the Royal School of Architecture in Berlin, he used his knowledge to write a book called “Modern Architecture.” In this book, he states the core values he created to structure modern design. Here, believed that design should display materials that...