Week 3: Art Nouveau

 Art Nouveau

The “new art” era is different from most design strategies. In the past, styles have come from inspiration or rejection of other ways of designing, yet the art nouveau era was created from not history, but the present. Victor Horta, one of the first designers to use the Art Nouveau style, took inspiration from his surrounding environment in nature. This means the design heavily incorporates plants, flowers, vines, birds, and other small wild animals. The art nouveau designers appreciate Japanese art or artists who constructed pieces with nature such as Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Gauguin, and Aubrey Beardsley.

The style originated and blossomed in France and Spain. When thinking about France, Paris and Nancy were the two main cities that the style demanded due to their artistic histories. Hector Guilmard, a Paris native, was an artist, interior designer, and industrial designer who focused on the art nouveau style in residential homes. He also designed city signage and light stands that can still be seen in Paris today. Spain was home to architect Antoni Gaudi, who heavily used curves, mosaic tiles, and decorative detail in his designs. He took inspiration from Indian and Japanese styles and incorporated them into the art nouveau style to produce his world-renowned structures.

Characteristics of this period had a new way of construction and painting. Unique one-of-a-kind ironwork railing and hardware were used throughout the space. These whimsical iron pieces would incorporate curves, adding an organic characteristic to a room. Mosaic tiles also grasped the nature theme through their complex and detailed patterns. Wanting to incorporate these patterns on the ceiling, designers would use stencils with patterns that closely resembled mosaic tiles to continue the organic theme from floor to ceiling.

One of the most notable houses influenced by this design is the Horta House. Designed by Victor Horta, one of the most known designers of this period, created an asymmetrical facade with large glass windows that frame the walls. Ironwork is incorporated throughout the house and twisting curvilinear details inspired by nature are accompanied in the interior details. Victor Horta and his designs would inspire many future architects and interior designers. One modern designer I believe was inspired by this era was Zaha Hadid. Her designs rarely use angles and incorporate organic flowing shapes and lines to create interesting modern architecture.

One Step Further: Sagrada Familia

This summer I embarked on the summer study tour that is required for all architecture and interior design majors to enroll in. Here I extended my trip after the tour and traveled to Barcelona Spain with a few friends. One of the most notable landmarks of this city is Sagrada Familia, a cathedral that was designed by Antoni Gaudi. After visiting the city and seeing the structure in person, I realized how different a structure can be perceived from a picture versus in real life.

When we would study the structure in class, the church seemed small and flat. When visiting it in person the scale of the church took up a whole block and could be seen from miles away. The depth that the building had encompassed and enhanced the organic shapes used on the upper half of the structure. The ornate detail could be appreciated when looking at it and left me and my friends astonished at how someone could design such a complex façade.

Upon further research on Sagrada Familia, I discovered it not only has characteristics of the art nouveau style but also incorporates the existing Gothic aesthetic of the time. Over time many other architects have contributed to the construction and design when renovation was needed. Rehabilitation has been done on the building for many years and continues to be done. In fact, computer-generated software has been used on the building to design additions and assist in rehabilitation. Even though the building is constantly being worked on, the original art nouveau style that was designed by Gaudi has been preserved and honored with every alteration. 

Sources:

Sagrada Família in Barcelona - Gaudí's Unfinished Masterpiece (artincontext.org)

Gaudí, Sagrada Família (article) | Spain | Khan Academy

Additional Information:

How Nature Inspired Gaudí In Creating La Sagrada Familia | TIME (youtube.com)

Exploring Art Nouveau! A look into this beautiful Design style! (youtube.com)

Art Nouveau | History, Characteristics, Artists, & Facts | Britannica