Week 5: Protomodernism

 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 are available, workable, durable, and economical. 

Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian architect and designer who practiced for 50 years. During his time, he mastered furniture and interior design making him the most important designer in these categories in the twentieth century. He studied in Brno and Vienna and worked under Wagner to enhance his modern architecture knowledge. His creations include furniture, jewelry, posters, textiles, and wallpapers, which are all prominent in the arts and crafts movement that he was a fan of. His designs rely heavily on geometric lines, cubes, and squares which are big attributes of modern design.

Adolf Loos was an Austrian architect and theorist who had a functionalist approach. He was said to be a fierce critic and very argumentative, yet this passion made him one of the top designers of the time. As a designer, he believed in straight lines and angles to give structure to a piece. He also rejected decoration that plays into the minimalist characteristic of modern architecture. If a piece couldn’t be justified, he believed that it was not needed. 

Protomodernism was the turning point in design. By rejecting the past classic architecture and interior design, the modern style was born. Although this style is a steppingstone between eras, it is important to not belittle the impact it has on history.

One Step Further: Kubus Chair

This chair reflects the strict geometries that Hoffmann based his design strategies on. Designed in 1910, the chair was first introduced at the international exhibition held in Buenos Aires. This modern chair was very influential in its time and even further in history. It is said that the chair influenced Le Corbusier’s LC2 and LC3 chairs by turning the Kubus chair inside out. This is done by taking the chair structure and putting it on the exterior. Hoffmann’s ability to create compelling furniture that incorporates clean lines and basic geometries set him apart from other designers of the time. Today, the chair is still used in everyday design and fits with the many styles that are prominent.

Sources:

1910 kubus chair by austrian architect joseph hoffmann | tomorrow started

Iconic Interiors - Kubus Chair