Unit 5
"The Chair", Hans Wegner
On cover of Interiors magazine in 1949, Used in Nixon/Kennedy debates
Designers create small towns, emphasis upon pedestrians and town centers, walkable neighborhoods containing a range of housing and job types
What is New Urbanism?
Recreates a lost building. Uses physical evidence and secondary sources.
What is Reconstruction?
Buildings and interiors connected with region's character
What is Regionalism?
Maintains historic features while making interiors usable. Tries to retain features IF possible- not as strict as preservation. Updates systems and building codes
What is Rehabilitation?
Larger home concept intended to fill gap between modest suburban tract housing and upscale gated homes, used a variety of materials and mixed and matched details of historic periods from a catalog.
What is a McMansion?
2 stories w/ attached garage, partially submerged basement w/ finished rooms and windows-- essentially a ranch on top of a garage.
What is a raised ranch?
3 or more levels, main entrance is usually on center level. Living areas separated from private areas by steps.
What is a split level?
Only the facade of the building is retained- rest is destroyed.
What is facadism?
Air conditioning
What is introduced that allows for glass box buildings?
International style combined with past elements
What is new Formalism?
Returns a building to a specific time- removes later additions or changes. Requires physical and documentary evidence. Achieves true period design.
What is restoration?
Drywall (rather than plaster)
What new type of room divider comes about during GM period?
Known for his pieces completely covered in Shagreen
What was Andre Groult known for ?
Russian ballet (Stravinsky ballet), Jazz age, cubism & African art, orient (lacquer), Planes and ocean liners, King Tut, Art Nouveau, De Stijl, and Bauhaus
What was Art Deco influenced by?
Master of lacquer work
What was Jean Dunand known for?
Heating and ventilation system
What was innovative about Glaspalies?
Quickly built large tract developments of mass-produced homes. Rapid construction. Ranch, raised ranch, split level
What was suburban modern?
Eames Lounge Chair, OSM
Most complex of designs
Bibendum, Eileen Gray (IS)
Named after Michelin Man.
Arts & Architecture magazine promoted residential prototypes that can be built quickly and economically, used prefab materials
What were Case Study Houses?
Paris
Where does Art Deco originate?
Perriand and Jenneret
Who did Le Corbusier collaborate with on furniture designs?
Finnish Textile Designer who founded Marimekko. Marimekko is Known for nontraditional, contemporary and colorful designs. Made fashionable in US by Jackie Kennedy. Producing fabrics for Cate and Barrel since mid-60's.
Who was Armi Ratia?
Swedish designer who did detailed anatomical studies of seated human figure. Best known for very comfortable furniture using bent laminated frames.
Who was Bruno Mathsson?
Participated in De Stijl, International, and Art Moderne. Known for Lacquer work
Who was Eileen Gray?
Leading female Danish furniture designer. Innovative
Who was Grete Jalk?
Inspired by Chinese, Shaker, and Windsor chairs. Modernized traditional forms.
Who was Hans Wegner?
Peacock chair, Hans Wegner (SM)
Inspired by Windsor chair
Villa Mairea, Alvar Aalto (SM)
Modern Functionalism
Importance of History and past elements in modern framework
What is Modern Historicism?
1. Volume rather than mass 2. Regularity from standard elements rather than axial symmetry 3. Emphasis on proportions and materials rather than arbitrary applied decoration
3 principles outlined in the book "International Style since 1922"
1. National Romanticism 2. Scandinavian Neoclassicism 3. Modern Functionalism
3 types of Scandinavian Modern Architecture
Flat roof, rounded corners, glass block, bands of windows, repeating line, minimal ornament
American Art Deco architecture characteristics
Completely integrated luxurious interiors, low sofas, chairs, and tables, finest craftsmanship since Louis XVI
Art Deco Interior Characteristics
Renewed importance of designers individuality, Interior design becomes more important during this period, Underlying classicism: Superb craftsmanship, expensive materials, lavish decoration
Art Deco Interiors
Stylized flowers, leaves, water fountains, birds, animals, sunrays, star bursts
Art Deco motifs
Charles Eames
Born in STL, Innovative designer using molded plywood, fiberglass, and materials developed during WWII
First Danish chair with a seat and back made of double curved plywood. Produced quickly and seat and back could be removed and packaged separately- easily shipped.
Characteristics of AX chair
Suspended ceilings allow for greater freedom in space planning, open plans, sparsely furnished with modern furniture
Characteristics of Commercial Geometric Modern Interiors
Continuation of Bauhaus and International style, geometric, rectilinear grids, symmetry, aluminum & plastics, standardization and prefabrication are essential, glass curtain walls, "less is more"
Characteristics of Geometric Modern Architecture
Follow Bauhaus & International style principles, clean, simple, reject decoration, functional, airy & Light
Characteristics of Geometric Modern Interiors
1. Geometric Forms 2. Volume instead of mass 3. Smooth white or glass walls 4. Minimal color and no applied ornament
Characteristics of International Style
Minimalist, devoid of regional characteristics, stresses functionalism, rejects nonessential decoration
Characteristics of International Style Commercial Architecture
Volume is important, high ceilings and adjoining spaces have diff ceiling heights, rooms are light and airy w/ large windows, spaciousness, minimal furnishings, little texture,pattern, and color. Few decorative objects.
Characteristics of International Style Interior
Irregular surfaces, parabolic arches, spherical forms, oblique angles, natural colors, smooth & curving, no ornament
Characteristics of Organic and Sculptural Modern
Humanness in designs, forms derived from nature; building related to its site, open plan, continuity between indoor and outdoors, uncluttered, clean lines
Characteristics of Organic and Sculptural Modern Residential Interiors
Edgar Brandt
Designer known for his formal metal and wrought iron furniture pieces during Art Deco period
Commercial grade textiles- GM
Emergence of scotchguard
Main Railway Terminus Interiors, SM
Great concern for pleasant sensory experiences through spatial changes, color, light, and texture
George Nelson
Head of design at herman miller. Created storage systems using a pole.
Harry Bertoia
Head of metal workshop at Cranbrook Academy of Arts- worked with Eames & Knoll, each wire had to be hand welded- EXPENSIVE
Periodicals, department stores, exhibitions held at MOMA and Merchandise Mart
How are modern ideas spread?
No conventional living room, no dining room, no bedrooms
How did Schindler house depart from existing residential architecture?
Light steel frame w/ standard factory windows, all parts of structure were shop fabricated and assembled on site, Early example of gunite (Sprayed on concrete)
How was Lovell house built?
Dogfish and stingray skin washed and brined, dried and then put into a press and scraped to show concentric circles, dyed and polished.
How was Shagreen made?
Knocked down- shipped in large cartons and assembled on site with simple tools.(IKEA begins in 1953)
How was much of Scandinavian furniture shipped?
Warren Platner
In Eero Saarinen's firm, created sculptural wire furniture, used a wire cage structure
Herman Miller
Introduced Office furniture in 1940- along with Knoll became leaders in commercial design.
Layers of wood veneer - grain running in same direction, are glued together and then placed in press where heat and pressure set the glue. Can only be bent in direction of wood grain. Very strong and stable.
Laminated Wood
Ladies Room, Eliel Saarinen (American AD)
Low furniture, horizontal emphasis
Alvar Aalto
Main Scandinavian Modern designer. Designed cantilevered beech wood chairs using laminated wood.
Series 7 Chair, Jacobsen
One of the most popular chairs of the late 20th and early 21st century
Inspired by sculptural forms and abstracted living organisms, rejects geometry and hard edges.
Organics and Sculptural modern concepts
Sheets or "Plies" of wood are glued together and laid at 90 degree angle to the grain of the next ply. Allows for flexibility in two or more directions
Plywood
Chaise Longue, Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, Perriand (IS)
Pony hide
Wood, simple, but beautifully detailed, contours that fit human body and possess warm, timeless quality
SM Furniture characteristics
Eero Saarinen
Son of Eliel, Designed STL Arch and TWA terminal at JFK, Collaborated with Charles Eames in designing chairs using molded plywood
Draws on Folk traditions, unspoiled by modern life and industry.
What is National Romanticism architecture?
Name derived from "Beton Brut" meaning raw concrete (Le Corbusier), Abstract, rough and blocky
What is New Brutalism?
Storage Units by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller, GM
Standardized interchangeable parts
Salle a Manger, Perriand (IS)
Table attached to wall
Reaction against modernism, maintained a connection with the past.
What is New Classicism?
Rejection of ornament or applied decoration Preference for abstraction and geometric forms
Two main concepts of Modernism
Pierre Chareau Desk, Art Deco
Used diagonal lines
Prefabricated parts so construction is simple, inexpensive, & fast, Creates large unhindered interior space- no columns or arches.
What are the advantages of the geodesic dome?
Birch and Beech
What are two main woods of Scandinavian design?
Taking shape of a living form
What does Biomorphic mean?
Reuse for a different purpose. Period details are retained if possible
What is Adaptive use?
Seeks to protect and maintain historic structures and sites. Repairs and maintenance required to keep structure functioning, updating for current codes.
What is Historic Preservation?
Established Furniture Dept. at Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen. Considered father of Danish Modern furniture. Extensively studied human proportions to improve comfort of forms.
Who was Kaare Klint?
Integrated house into landscape, white box shapes that emphasizes minimalism (International Style)
Who was Richard Neutra?
Emile- Jacques Ruhlmann
Who was the leader of the French Art Moderne movement?
Le Corbusier
Who was the most influential designer of the International Style?
Johnson and Hitchcock
Who wrote "The International Style since 1922"?
Enhances company image, increases productivity, creating pleasant working environments
Why does commercial interior design become important during the 1950's?
Florence Knoll
Worked with many of the Bauhaus leaders. She felt that architects should contribute to designing furniture. She pushed the idea that interior designers could design interior systems and space planning as well as the choosing colors, textiles, and paint. Moves decorators to profession of interior designers.