Art Deco and Industrial Design Discussion

This week I looked into Allison and Katie's blogs. I enjoyed reading Allison's blog and how she talked about the comfortableness in furniture for the human body within Art Deco design. Katie delved into Eileen Gray and her furniture pieces, describing the specific characteristics.

Check out their blogs here:

Allison--> http://history2as.blogspot.com/2014/10/art-deco.html
Katie-->http://history2krk.blogspot.com/

Industrial design and Art Deco

Thanks to the moves in industrial design and technologies starting in the 1920's around the time of WWI, yet another new design style had emerged. Art Deco is known for it's fashion inspired look and luxurious feel. The 1925 World Fair in Paris exhibited the new styles, showcasing through interior design. Originating in France, the Art Deco style moved on to other countries, including the US, at the beginning of WWII.

Design style characteristics

Deriving from a sense of fashion, this design style was not concerned with functionality or new technologies. It was highly decorative and influenced from the prior styles of Art Nouveau. Popular characteristics include interiors with large mirrors, prominent light fixtures, metals, black lacquer, and glass. Rich materials were used, such as leather, ivory inlaid wood, ebony, tortoise, and more. Patterns often seen included zig zag, chevron , and skyscraper mimicked patterns.

Many famous architects and furniture designers of this time include: Michel Roux-Spitz, Jean Dunand, Maurice Dufrine, Jean Michel Frank, and Eileen Gray.

Several famous and large buildings in the US demonstrate complete Art Deco design concepts.

Rockefeller

Radio City

Chrysler Building

Modern day applications

Notice colors, materials, large mirrors, black lacquer. 

Modernism Discussion

This week I looked into Megan and Alex's blogs. I enjoyed looking at the images Megan included of modern day applications within interiors influenced by the De Stijl movement. Alex's blog mentioned Frank Lloyd Wright and his ties to nature within his designs. She had a great image of one of his works, in which the building was infused with the surrounding environment.

Check out their blogs here:

Megan--> http://history2mcy.blogspot.com/2014/09/modernism.html
Alex--> http://history2aar.blogspot.com/

Looking at the Emergence into Modernism

Modernist architecture is attributed to the modernist movements that sprung about at the turn of the 20th century. New architectural styles emerged, as well as many architects and designers that are renown today. The new technologies in industry and materials, as well as a want for growth in new developments led to the style movements created within.

Frank Lloyd Wright

One of the greatest pioneers of the modernist movement is in thanks to Frank Lloyd Wright. He sparked his own architectural practice in 1893 in IL. His designs were based on "organic" architecture, non-historic precedence and original design. He developed a square grid system in which to organize privacy within a home. This grid system is still used today in many ways.

Several of his most famous first structures are here in IL and include, the Robie House, the Rookery, and the Unity Temple.

The De Stijl movement

This design movement also started at the turn of the century, originating in the Netherlands. Meaning "The Style," this design focused on a utopian ideal of harmony and order. Clean horizontal and vertical lines created simple visual compositions. The use of black and white is most prevalent, with the primary colors as sole pops of color. Most noted is architect Gerrit Rietveld and his Schroder House built in 1924. The interior shows clear lines and use of black and white with primary pops of color. The interior also had movable walls for flexibility within the spaces.

International Style

These emerging design styles often became coined into one term, international style. Radical design movements of simplifying form and removing ornament drove this style. The 1932 MoMA exhibition held in NYC is considered the most influential exhibition in the history of architecture thus far. New building materials such as glass, steel, and concrete were mainly used. Honest construction, transparency of buildings, and mass-production techniques were all considered in these new structures. Notable architects include: Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies VanDerRohe, Walter Gropius, and Le Corbusier.

Publication that influenced MoMA exhibition 1932

Villa Savoy, Le Corbusier

Right: Le Corbusier Left: Student of Le Corbusier

Modern day applications...

Trump Tower, Chicago

Werkbund Discussion

This week I enjoyed looking at Rachael and Samantha's blogs. Rachael delved into and showed examples of Josef Hoffman's furniture style and functionality, and then showed gave examples of modern pieces seen today. Samantha talked about how the Werkbund movement took the quality and style of the arts and crafts period, however used mass production in coordination with design professionals and product manufacturers.

Rachael's blog--->http://history2rap.blogspot.com/

Sam's blog--->http://history2sjn.blogspot.com/

Putting in Work. Deutscher Werkbund.

Deutscher Werkbund was the German Association of Craftsmen formed in 1907. The Werkbund emerged after architect Joseph Maria Olbrich left Vienna and moved to Darmstadt, Germany, after Ernest Louis invited him to start up an artists' group.

The Werkbund Ways

Known as the largest and most influential design reform organization in Europe, the Werkbund consisted of a number of architects, artists, and business owners. The Werkbund wanted innovation in the domestic environment, and hoped to unite deep German values within forces of industrialization.

Quality was very important and honest materials and great workmanship was expected. Sachlichkeit was the functional new approach to design. Uncluttered, unornamented, and functional designs were the new thing. Women played a prominent role in teaching other women and shop girls about the new reform. Women felt the need to modernize their taste within this machine age.

Werkbund Exhibition

The first exhibition was held at Rheinpark, Cologne in 1914. It opened May 15th and was scheduled to last until October, however was shut down early due to World War I outbreaks. One of the most popular items in the exhibit was the Glass Pavilion by Bruno Taut. It was a prismatic concrete dome with colorful inlaid glass that acted as mirrors. It is Taut's best known work of architecture. 

Bauhaus

Another contribution from Werkbund was Bauhaus. An art school for crafts and fine arts, operated from 1919 to 1933. Bauhaus became known for architecture, interior design, graphic design, industrial design, and 

typography. Bauhaus had sites in Weimar and Dessau. 

Modern Application

Art Nouveau Discussion

Several other blogs I viewed were Chanel's and Rose's. I liked how Chanel talked more about Henry Van De Velde and mentioned that he designed his own home. Looking through Rose's images, I enjoyed seeing the Carson's department store storefront, located in Chicago. It was a great example of showing how we can really see this style within a city close to us.

Chanel's blog--->http://history2cac.blogspot.com/

Rose's blog--->http://history2rk.blogspot.com/