Contemporary Design

The new technology was one of the prime basis of modern design. Steel, concrete, and glass were 2 products used often. The popular term given to design based on advanced technology is Hi-Tech. More than 50% of the cost of any modern project is generated by the systems that provide electrical, telephone, plumbing, and air-quality services.

Richard Buckminister Fuller was an American Engineer, designer, inventor and philosopher. Much of his work ended after the few prototypes that he could produce. However, Richard made hemispherical dome structures from triangulated units. One of his domes was the U.S. exhibit pavilion at Expo 67. 

Charles Eames was a contemporary designer. His own house was built from standard industrially- produced parts. It is a great example of how technologically-based design could produce interior spaces of great beauty. 

Norman Foster was another contemporary designer during post modernism. His partnership was with Richard Rogers from 1963-1965. He designed Dumas Offices in Ipswich, England 1970-1975. 1300 workers are accommodated in this structure. He also renovated the Great Court of the British Museum, London 2001 and designed the commercial skyscraper called the Gherkin in London England.

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Reviews:

I reviewed Allison's blog and learned a lot about Frank Gehry. His own house in Los Angeles was one of his most famous works. I also reviewed Paige's and she explained the different movements of Contemporary design very well. Also, she explained the green aspects related to design.  

The Rise of the Interior Decorator

The rise of the Profession of Decorator began in Paris during the Art Deco period. Decorateur or an Emsemblier is one who creates an ensemble, choses objects, combines objects and in doing so makes aesthetic choices. The interior decorator was a growing need of a wealthy class of people for houses that reflected status, including professionals to help with outfitting the interiors.

Elsie de Wolfe was an actress who pursued interior design. She got her education in New York and Edinburgh. Elsie restored Victorian interiors into light and bright spaces using French furniture. She was also a professional who helped interior design become a separate entity from architecture.
Below is an example of a room Elsie de Wolfe designed. She liked to combine greens, purples, and lavenders. The room features a few of Elsie's favorite things such as, a writing desk, abundant light sources, seating situated for ease of conversation, and chintz curtains.

Dorothy Draper was a women who used traditional furniture in non-traditional ways. Her style was fun and appealing and she relied on social connections. Dorothy is known for dramatic use of black and white on walls, flooring and upholstered pieces. Her style was modern baroque with clear vivid colors. The Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia is one of her famous works. 

For more pictures and information on the Greenbrier Hotel, here is a video giving you a tour of the hotel.

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Reviews: 

I reviewed Paige's blog and I found many similarities comparing my blog to hers, however, I really enjoyed how she included chairs from the rise of the Interior Decorator. She connected them well with her current application photos as well. I also reviewed Alex's blog and I learn about Billy Baldwin in her blog. He quoted that "Nothing was interesting unless it was personal". 

Modernism in America Continued

The most successful architects and designers were using the dominant movement of eclectic historicism. These were based on the concepts of Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts. European modern works were rarely published and therefore little known.
Frank Lloyd Wright's work was not included in the exhibition "The International Style." He returned from Japan in 1992 and the work he produced between then and 1930 was scarce compared to what he did in the past. The Hollyhock House of 1921 was one of Wright's designs. It is in Los Angeles, California and was constructed and designed for Aline Barnsdall. It is a monumental structure of poured concrete with cast geometric ornament. Also, this house has elaborate terraces and gardens.

Richard Neurta was also a famous architect during this area. He was born in Austria and studied in Vienna with Adolf Loos and Otto Wagner. He came to the US in 1921 and worked with Louis Sullivan and Wright. He established his own practice in 1926 in Los Angeles. The Lovell House and the Kaufmann House were 2 of this famous homes. The three main materials in the Kaufmann House are steel, glass and stone. 

Lovell House

Kaufmann House

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Reviews:
I reviewed Flor's blog and enjoyed looking at the floor plans she posted for Frank Lloyd Wrights home. I thought they were very interesting and educational to look at. Also, I looked at Katie D's blog and I really liked her furniture examples she showed. Her current applications were well chosen and she stated that they were examples of spaces that showed less is more while keeping with the modern element. 

Art Deco

France was the point of origin for the Art Deco style. It came to the US and other European countries at the beginning of World War ll. It was a fashion oriented style with skyscraper furniture and decoration was very strong during this time. The Art Deco style was influenced by Art Nouveau period.
Michel Roux-Spitz was a famous architect during the Art Deco time. Salon des Artistes Decorateurs was one of his projects in Paris in 1928. He used chevron shapes, zig-zags, folding screen with African tribal art, large mirrors, and prominent lighting fixtures.

Dining Room - Paris 1925

The furniture design for Art Deco used a lot of rich materials including, ebony, zebrawood with inlays of ivory, tortoise-shell, leather, polished metals, mirrors, and glass. Jean Dunand was a furniture designer and he moved toward more geometric forms in the 1920s. He established a factory and produced screens, cabinets, chairs, and tables. Also, he was a decorator for the wealthy. 

Eileen Gray had a long career in France through several periods and styles. He was an expert in lacquer before World War l. His furniture was highly original, ingenious, and cubist in character. He designed lamps. and colorful and geometric rugs. One chair that Eileen Gray designed was the Bibendum arm chair in 1925 which is pictured below. 

Another chair Eileen designed was the Transat chair in 1924. 

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Here is a video clip of more of the Art Deco furniture during this period

Reviews:

I reviewed Katie Kaywoods blog and noticed we both focused on Eileen Gray and the type of furniture she designed. Also, her current applications are great examples and spaces that you can easily find today. I reviewed Flor's blog as well and I enjoyed her video on the Art Deco inspired car. 

Emergence Of Modernism

Frank Lloyd Wright had a great impact on the Emergence of Modernism. He designed over 1000 structures and completed 532 works. He had two phases, the early and later Wright. He worked in the offices of Adler and Sullivan in Chicago and that set the direction for his work which is non-historic, original, and organic. He started his own practices in 1893 in Oak Park, Illinois which led to the commission of many other projects.

One of Frank Lloyd Wrights buildings is the Unity Temple 1905. It is in Oak Park, IL and it's the only surviving public building from his Prairie period.

The Rookery 1905 on South LaSalle Street in Chicago was another one of Wrights buildings. He was commissioned to update the interior design and plan of the light court and lobbies. He realized a stunning balance between Burnham and Root's ornamental ironwork and his own vision to create a spectacular environment. It was one of his most dramatic interior compositions. 

The Robie House was one of Wrights finest examples of the Prairie style. Here is a video that walks you through the home.

Le Corbusier combined a passion for classical Greet architecture and an attraction for the modern machine. He worked for Peter Behrens and Josef Hoffmann. He had an artistic background throughout life and respected historic design. He published his ideas in a book entitled Vers une Architecture, in which he refers to the house as a machine for living. One of his buildings is Pavilion de l'Esprit Nouveau, Exhibition of Decorative Arts which is in Paris

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Reviews:

I reviewed Rose's blog and she did a good job at describing the international style. Also, I like how she compared fashion design with interior design in the current application photos. I reviewed Allison's blog as well and I learned that Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and it's all handcrafted. 

Deutscher Werkbund Movement

The Deutscher Werkbund Movement began is 1892 in Munich, Germany, 1898 in Vienna, Autria, and 1899 in Berlin, Germany. This movement is equivalent to the Arts and Crafts movement. It set the stage for the International Style and Art Deco Style.
The Secession Exhibition Building was designed by Joseph Olbrich in 1897. This building is symbolic of a "pro to-modern" building.
Here is a short clip showing some more of Joseph Olbrich's work.

Secession Exhibition Building

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Otto Wagner was also part of the Vienna secession. He taught at Vienna Academy and also was an architect and believed in stanch functionalism. He designed furniture to relate to his architecture. The Austrian Postal Savings Bank was one of his designs. Its a very plain, clean interior with aluminum details.

Austrian Postal Savings Bank

One of Otto Wagner's Furniture pieces was the Postal Savings Bank Armchair. It was a beechwood stained dark. It has a plywood seat with metal braces along with aluminum or brass shoes.

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Reviews:
I reviewed Margaret and Samantha's blog. Sammy's blog represented the whole movement very well. I liked her picture showing Joseph Olbrich art work and the use of geometric forms. In Margaret's blog I learned that the first exhibition was held Rheinpark Cologne in 1914. She also showed some very great applications found today.

Art Nouveau

The Art Nouveau period lasted from 1890-1910. This was a time where there was a lot of economic growth which supported new and experimental directions in design. The Art Nouveau used the Arts and Crafts flowing line, simplicity in furniture design. The leaders of the movement were Belgium and France. An example of Art Nouveau in Belgium is the Tassle House in Brussels.

Tassle House, Brussels, 1892 by Victor Horta

Another one of Victor Horta pieces was the Horta House. This house had asymmetrical facade, twisted iron balcony, large glass windows frames, and curvilinear nature related details.

Horta House, Brussels, 1898-1911

Henry Van de Velde is a significant Belgian practitioner. He designed his own house in 1894 along with furniture, table silver, and kitchen cookware. Three chairs he designed were the Side Chair, Villa Esche Armchair, and Kessler Diplomats Chair.

Kessler Diplomats

Side Chair

Villa Esche Armchair

Hector Guimard was the most significant figure in Paris. He was an architect and a designed furniture, tile designs, window and door trim, and fireplace mantels. One of his main projects thats famous was designing the Paris metro subway station.

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Discussion:

I reviewed Justine's blog and I liked how she explained and showed pictures of Art Nouveau in different parts of the world. Such as, Belgium, France and Spain. I learned that Art Nouveau spread across the Europe area. Also I reviewed Allison S's blog and learned that Art Nouveau is not only in interior design but in fashion as well. I enjoyed her video of the fashion week in London that was all inspired by the Art Nouveau period.