Post Modernism

The Wall House in the Netherland by American architect John Hejduk really caught my attention. Made with several materials.. concrete, steel, wood, and stucco the structure is one of a kind. Its unique shape, design and colors reminded me of something fictional like Alice in Wonderland or Charley and the Chocolate factory themes.

John Hejduk was a designer that made great use of the grid system as well as geometric shapes. He has a cubist type and would often study the psychological elements when it came to his designs. The space was originally designed for Ed Bye in 1973 but due to fear of costs it was put on hold and later funded by the development company Wilma. The house was not actually constructed until 2000 after the death of Hejduk. The space is 2,500 square feet and has a huge wall as its center piece. Surrounding the wall are four organic living spaces with a long passage way to connect them.

Current Applications:

Sketch of a skyscraper that resembles the organic shapes of The Wall House II. 

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chEfhs-kEXQ
Here is a short clip of Hajduk, a powerful message about architecture.

Responses:
Courtney- The quote you included was very moving. I also find his motivation for his work very moving.
Megan- I like how you included the origin of recycling. It is crazy to think that the practice is so young.

Memphis Movement

I was very inspired by the Memphis movement because you still see a lot of this style being implemented in different art forms from the time that it was created to present day. The style that I like to describe as "loud" is very colorful, fun and most definitely odd. The Memphis style was created by The Memphis Group, several Italian architects from Milan. The founder Ettore Sottsass founded the group on 1981 and chose the name Memphis from the Bob Dylan song "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" which had been playing on repeat at the meeting the group had been established at. The group was inspired by Art Deco, Pop Art and Kitsch styles and designed furniture, fabrics and other art pieces from the year they started up until 1987. Their style was very colorful and used a lot of asymmetrical shapes and designs. 

"Perhaps most misunderstood and openly loathed, however, was Memphis, a school of design that was a riot of color and materials that often overwhelmed a piece's original intent, a shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fisher-Price."

Designers today are still using these this once hated design style. The abstract shapes, dizzying graphics and contrasting colors are making a headway in the fashion industry.

American Apparel  

Chair by Hay with textile cover designed by Memphis Group member Nathalie Du Pasquier

Nathalie Du Pasquier's prints on bags displayed at the Wrong for Hay Mini Market in Milan

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TYLjUb2VHY

American Apparel has collaborated with artist Nathalie Du Pasquier to create a collection of clothing using new prints inspired by Du Pasquier's

Respones: 

Somag- I liked how you focused your entry on Charles and Ray Eames. Their work is some of my favorite.

Demi- The image of the Eames lounge chair inspired shoe was very interesting. Good find!

Modernism in America Part 2

Frank Lloyd Wright was definitly the most famous architect of this time and produced many historical pieces. The piece that I am drawn to the most is La Miniature, The Millard House in Pasadena, California. Made of concrete block cast with decorative patterned faces this was his most famous houses during the 20s and 30s. The house is made up surfaces that highlight repeated patterns. The residential property features an acre of gardens, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 kitchens, living space, formal dining room and semi attached garages. The house was built in 1923 and 1924 after the completion of the Hollyhock House in Hollywood and the Imperial House in Japan.

Wright at the time was very driven to design something that was much different than anything that he had done before. He felt that he had been labeled as "the Prairie house designer" and wanted to remind people that he was capable of producing unique works that were stylized to stand alone.  

 It is noted in an autobiography of his that he was drawn to designing with concrete blocks because they were the cheapest and ugliest thing in the world. He took this as a challenge and stated he wanted to see, "what could be done with that gutter-rat. The blocks were made in wooden molds that had the patterns along the walls of the molds. Using the technique of reinforced blocks cost $17,000 and Wright had only been given a $10,000 budget.

Current Day Applications of Modernism

Extra Credit: 

Here is a video slide show of the interiors of the house that was created to help sell it when it was on the market in November 2014. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VVAYbB7XT4

Responses: 

Alexandra- Thanks for sharing your experience about visiting the Miller House. Its layout and design look incredible. 

Bailey- I liked how you discussed how designers came to America and the transition between countries. 

Week 8 Rise of the Decorator

Dorothy Draper really caught my attention with her use of bold color and design. Her interior spaces display a great contrast between elements through patterns and hues. She was the first person to professionalize the field of interior design and created her own design firm in 1923. Not only were design firms unheard of but starting and owning a business as a women was rare and daring. Dorthy Draper and Company design studio is still a working company and continues to use the similar style techniques that Dorthy her self used. It is noted that she was a very confident women, which helped her success in both the business and design feild.

Her spaces displayed vibrant colors and daring combinations of colors and patterns. One of her favorite combinations was using a dull white against a shiny black. She also used white and black checkered floors in a lot of her spaces. Her design goals were to make people feel the quality of life when they entered the space, she was labeled as an anti-minimilst.

Dorthy lived a glamorous life style, be born into an aristocratic lifestyle in Tuxedo, New York. This was actually the first ever gated community in the United States. The finer life style continued when she was married in 1912 to Dr. George Draper, personal doctor to president Franklin D. Roosevelt. She then worked on interiors of her high society friends.

Current Applications:
The Colony Hotel, done by Dorthy Draper and Company design studio.

Extra Credit: Here is a short video displaying more of Dorothy Draper's work. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16wqY1wrma4

Responses: 

Alexandra- I thought your descriptions next to the images you chose was very helpful and full of information. 

Erin- The information you found on Tessa Kennedy was very interesting and it looks that her work was very unique. 

Week 7 Art Deco

While researching the Art Deco period I came across French artist Rene Lalique. He work consisted of glass design and art, perfume bottles, vases, chandeliers, clocks, jewelry, and automobile hood ornaments. When he was just twelve years old he started College Turgot (1872) where he learned drawing and sketching skills. In 1874 he would then begin taking classes in London to improve his graphic design skills. Lalique is best known for his glass art creations that were displayed on wall or columns of grand dinning halls.

Left Picture: SS Normandie dining hall

Right Picture: Spirit of the Wind Automobile ornament

In 1921 Lalique founded the Verrierie d'Alsace glassworks, today the world's on Lalique factory. By 1925 he has participated in many architectural projects and was highlighted at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris, this was the climax of his career. Pictured right: Interior of Cote d'Azur Pullman Express carriage.             

Current Applications:

Extra Credit: Video highlighting works of Lalique https://vimeo.com/114224292

Responses: Kate- I really like the 3rd current day application you included. For being modern it still highlights the art deco style very clearly. 

Kendra- The video you included was very interesting and informational. I also thought the caption you included with your pictures are very helpful. 

Week 5 Post Modernism

Le Corbusier had his hand in many art forms but was most famous for his architectural work. The French designer was also a painter, urban planner, and writer. Corbusier had no formal training in architecture but did work with the notable Peter Behrens and Josef Hoffmann. His worked mainly focused on providing better living conditions for people of crowded cities. He also worked to industrialize urban cities like Paris, France and the city of Chandigarh, India. Le Corbusier taught himself about architecture by visiting different museums, going to different libraries, reading about the subject, and sketching then constructing building models.

The Anatole Schrod House in La-Chaux-de-Fonds

Maison Dom-Ino

Corbusier began his own architectural practice when he moved to Paris in 1917. The next year he would meet Cubist painter Amedee Ozenfant who encouraged him to collaborated with him in some of his artwork. Their work would alter the cubist techniques and begin the Purism movement. Between 1918-1922 Corbusier focused primarily on his painting work and did not design anything to be built. 

Guitare verticale 

Nature morte verticale

Later famous architectural work included the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo ( 1954-1959). Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts (1960-1963). The Centre Le Corbusier in Zurich (1962-1967).

Current day works inspired by the Post Modernism movement:

 

Extra Credit: Here is a video tour of the Centre Le Corbusier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8NFZGj6Qps

Respones:

Courtney- I like how you included the quote by Ludwig Mues van der Rohe, it really expresses his feel for the importance of fundamentals before designing. 

Demi- I too enjoy the styles of Walter Gropius, the materials he used were very innovative. 

Week 3 Prontomodernism