Contemporary Design

Post modernism was a design period that replaced the International Style.  There was an increase with communication all over the world because of jet travel.  Design work was noticed as an international profession. Louis L. Kahn and Cesar Pelli were common designers from this period.

Cesar Pelli designed some of the worlds tallest buildings while Louis Kahn followed the concept "light reveals forms and creates the nature of interior space.  Was major designer of the International Style as designs became international.

Kimbell Art Museum designed by Kahn

Hi-Tech Contemporary design was defined by the new technology collaborating with modern design.  Usage of materials of steel, concrete, and glass.  Richard Buckminister Fuller and Charles Eames were classified under Hi-Tech.  Fuller followed the geometric concept with placing shapes within shapes.  Charles exemplified perfect applications of beautiful interior spaces with technology based-design.

Other designers from the Post Modern time include Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, James Stirling, Robert Venturi, and the New York five.

Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers designed the famous Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Centre Pompidou

The New York Five is the group of five major New Yourk City architects: PEter eisenman, Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, John Hejduk, and Richard Meier.  They are all modern architects that devoted the color white into all of their works.

Late modernism involves Richard Meier who rejects the ideas of modernism but reflects the designs of early modern concepts.  In particular, he was very abstract within his art and designs.
I visited one of his famous designs in California, the Getty Center.  This place was very beautiful and had a gorgeous layout, views, and gardens.  Everything was constructed with elegant and well planned designs.

Getty Center

Deconstructivism includes Peter Eisenman, Bernard Tschumi, and Frank Gehry.  Frank Gehry stands out the most to me because he is the designer of the Disney Concert Music Hall in L.A.  I was on a trip in California for IED this past summer and I was able to witness first and the modern and interesting design.  The rooftop garden was amazing and very peaceful.  The inside was boisterous and was very clean.  

Walt Disney Music Concert Hall

Some applications during this timer period include:

Some current applications include:

Short clip about post-modernism

I reviewed allisons blog. She had a great description of Gehrys work and all of the magnificent buildings he contributed. Her examples of his work gave a great example of his personality embedded intp his work.  I also read Paige S's blog and she had a great overview of the different time periods that belong under contemporaty design. Her video and applications furthered my knowledge on this time period.

Modernism in America

Many of the beautiful modern pieces that originated in Europe were not published or acknowledged, so therefore America was a little bit of a late start.  Concepts from this time period were based off of Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  The most popular and noticed architects and designers include Frank Lloyd Wright, Rudolph Schindler, and Richard Neutra. 

Frank Lloyd Wright's designs were not good fits toward the concept of modernism of "International Style".  Using a lot of concrete with sharp ornamentation was a common factor of his design along with repetition of patterns.  The Hollyhock House and La Miniatura house both had the use of concrete inside and outside the home.  La Miniatura was the most successful of his houses during this time period. 


Falling Water is one of the most popular houses Frank Lloyd Wright designed.



Rudolph Schindler had a very collaborative relationship with Wright, but unfortunately ended in a bitter conflict.  One of his designs is the Schindler house in Newport Beach, California.  Each of his home showed different ways to keep the same style of modernism.  Similar to Wright, he used the use of concrete in most of his projects. Schindler and Richard Neurta were friends and lived with each other and their families in the Schindler house.  Neurta studied in Vienna with Adolf Loos and Otto Wagner, previous modernists of Europe. Some of his most prominent work included the Kaufmann house, and the Lovell.

Kauffman House

Applications from this time period include :







Examples of current applications include:





Schindler's House in a video!

I reviewed Megan S' blog and she talked about Irving Gill and Frank Lloyed Wright who were popular architects. Also great pictures of buildings designed by Gill and Wright.  Richard Neurta was also mentioned and she showed great pictures of buildings he designed as well. 
Nichole's blog had a great background of this time period and where it came from. She also showed off Frank Lloyd Wright's work and his design philosophy.  Comparing Perkins and Will to modernism was a great way to show current application.

The Rise of the Interior Decorator

After the L'Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the world's fair in Paris, people began to fall into two categories: Functionalists or Decorators.  The profession of Decorator began right after during the Art Deco period.  In French, there are the common words "decorateur" or "ensemblier" describing our profession.  Ensemblier means one who creates an ensemble, chooses objects, combines objects, and in doing so makes aesthetic choices. Functionalists were grounded in this particular theory.  Wealthy class had a huge impact on the business of interior professionals.  They make up most of the residential projects because they are actually able to afford professional advice.

Elsie de Wolfe blossomed during this time period.  She was an actress who pursued interior design and began by restoring Victorian interiors into light and bright spaces with French furniture.



Dorothy Draper was also an inspiring professional from this time period.  She relied on tons of social connections, which we can all relate to today.  Having social connections advances your knowledge and prospects in interior design.  Her style was was fun and appealing and she took traditional furniture and used in non-traditional ways.  This style could be compared to a modern baroque, with use of black and white on walls, flooring, and upholstery.

    

Last, but not least Billy Baldwin emerged.  Rather than relying on the wealthy to provide work for himself, he was a design professional for the middle class as well as many famous clients.  Rather than a fun and appealing approach, his style was more clean-cut and sharp.
A famous quote that I really enjoyed was, "color is like icing on the cake, I never begin with a color scheme, I end with it."
  

Past applications:







Current applications:

  


I reviewed Paige S's blog, in which she gave a great background history of the Interior Decorator and how it became about.  She had great emphasis on Dorothy Draper, a very well known designer from this period.  She showed great pictures of furniture from this time period.  I reviewed Natalie's blog and she had great descriptions of Elsie de Wolfe and Dorothy Draper and how they were major influences from this time period. She also showed great applications.

Art Deco

After WW1 people werre sad and needed a good change to brighten everything up.  Starting off in France, the use of aluminum, black lacqurr, and glass became really popular. Art Deco style didn't move to the rest of Europe and U.S. until WW11 when arts and literature began to be banned.  Unlike past time periods, artists were not concerned with functionalism, but adhered to the fashion aspect.  This style was highly influenced by the Art Nouveau time period. Some of the major artists from this time period include Michel Roux-Spitz, Jean Dunerd, and Jean Michel Frank. Other artists including Picasso began experimenting with cubism where the geometry, space, and angle were compared.  Examples of Art Deco:



Examples of modern say Art Deco:

 

Some examples of furniture from this time period include:

   

I reviewed Megan S. blog and I really  liked the way she described Jean Dunands design and Eilieens designs.  She gave good descriptions of how art deco eas influenced in their design.
I also read Megan Y's blog and I loved how she gave every single characteristic about the Art Deco design period  and how it was applied to interiors in the U.S. and in Europe.