The Emergence of Modernism

Background:

The push into a new generation meant the emergence of a brand new style for all artists and designers. Modern design was a new direction of design. It was thought to provide clarity and force by these achievers. There were several pioneers of the modern design movement but one of the most influential was Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Frank Lloyd Wright had designed over 1,000 works and ended up completing a total of 532. His design phases were separated into early Wright and later Wright. His idea of "Organic Architecture," is what helped his rise in popularity. While he worked in the office of Adler and Sullivan from 1887 to 1893, he began in own practice in Oak Park in 1893. This lead to the commission of many other works like the Robie House, the Unity Temple, and the Winslow House. His most popular style of residential architecture was the Prairie House Form. These included houses like the Hickox House and the Kankakee House. 

Wright also dabbled in some commercial work. Some of his most famous projects included the Larkin Company and the Avery Coonley building. His concepts for these areas the public and private areas of the home created a sqaure-rectangular grid system from the art-glass and wall tiles is still commonly used today.  

Another strongly popular style during this period was the De Stijl in the Netherlands. It was originated from a magazine called De Stijl which translates into "the style." The main concepts behind this exact style were to bring a new Utopian ideal to harmony and order. These designers and sculptors wanted to really emphasize pure abstraction and therefore reduced everything to its simplest form and color. All visual compositions were either vertical or horizontal and the colors were restricted to the basic primary along with black and white. It was highly inspired by artists of that time period. One of the most renowned designers was Gerrit Rietveld. 

One of the most major styles of the modern movement was the International Style which began in 1920's and 1930's. The three main principles which defined the International Style were: the expression of volume rather than mass, the emphasis and balance rather than preconceived symmetry, and the expulsion of applied ornament. Two of the most famous architects of this style include Walter Gropius, who established Bauhaus - Design, and Mies van der Rohe. 

Current Applications:

Discussion Blogs:
I read Nichole's blog. Even though we were given a lot of information, I like how she took time to address each of the different styles that we learned about and then directed in on one of the most influential architects/designers of that style to given an example.

I also read Katie's blog and I thought it was interesting how instead of focusing in on multiple different styles that we addressed in class she narrowed in on just the International Style and was able to go more deeply into detail on the characteristics as well as the designers who influenced this era.

Additional Links! - Architects of the International Style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2nJiAiD6AY

Deutscher Werkbund Movement (1892 - 1910)

The Deutscher Werkbund Movement, which translates into "the German workshop," was founded in Munich, Germany in 1892 by Herman Muthesius with the intent of having the highest quality design to the mass produced output. The style was equivalent to the Arts and Crafts movement except its critical difference was that it did not protest the use of machinery, but instead embraced it. It still was against the artistic establishment. There was a high level of collaboration between the design professional and the product manufacturers to improve the competitiveness of the German design. This movement set the stage for the international style and the Art Deco style. 

   

The Vienna Secession was a realistic movement that began in Austria in 1898. It was a time where a mass amount of artists were removing themselves from the academic portrayal of design. These artists were protesting against Historicism but not embracing Art Nouveau. The Vienna group included designers such as Olbrich, Klimt, Wagner, Loos, Hoffmann, and Koloman Moser. 

Joesph Olbrich was know for use of geometric forms and curvilinear artwork. He was also the designer of the Vienna Secession Building, which was a symbol of the "proto-modern movement." Also works of his included the Ernst Ludwig House.

Gustav Klimt had a strong belief that there should be a union between art and design. Most of his subject matter dealt with the subconscious and he used gold paints to add a dramatic effect to his pieces.

   

Otto Wagner, also apart of the Vienna Secession, was an architect that believed in staunch. He designed his furniture to go hand-in-hand with the surrounding architecture. He liked the designs of his interiors to be plan/clean with aluminum details. Some of his pieces like the Postal Savings Bank Armchair and Postal Savings Bank Stool had beechwood-stained woods to give a darker finish to them. 

Adolf Loos had a more functional and austere style that was strongly influenced by the arts and crafts movement. His pieces were a lot more hand-made. 

   

Koloman Moser was master at all trades. He designed furniture as well as textiles. He found a lot of his inspiration from Gustav. 

Current Applications:

Peer Discussion:
I looked at Ali's blog and I really like her examples of the current applications. I think she really addresses each characteristic that is the Deutscher Werkbund Movement.
I also looked at Allison's blog and I like how she used mainly chairs for her examples to demonstrate the differences and similarities of the furniture that was constructed during this time period. I also really like the link that she attached of the Secession Building.