Post-Modernism: Michael Graves

              The New York Five was composed of 5 architects, Peter Eisenman, Charles Gwathmey, John Hejduk, Richard Meier, and Michael Graves. Michael Graves was an American architect recognized as one of The New York Five. He was known for his contemporary designs and prominent iconic examples of Postmodern architecture. Graves embraced more decorative details, strong colors and forms, He graduated from Harvard with a master's in architect in 1959 and believed that design should be available for the masses and not only for the wealthy. Graves not only designed buildings but as designed domestic products sold my Alessi, an Italian housewares maker. In 2003, Graves became paralyzed from the waist down due to a spinal cord infection.

       Michael Graves directed his firm 'Michael Graves & Associates.' He originally created modernist residences but later moved from modernism to postmodernism and urbanism. One of his most famous buildings is the Portland Building, in Portland, Oregon. It's considered as the first major example of postmodern architecture.

     Graves later received a number of commissions. He completed buildings such as the Humana Building, Denver Public Library, as well as various buildings for the Walt Disney Company. Graves ended up winning the Rome Prize in 1960 which he had not been expecting to win so early on in his career.

  

  

International Modernism - Dubai

      Personally, I have always wanted to go to Dubai. The way that the juxtaposition between futuristic skyscrapers and a traditional religion creates a peaceful modern lifestyle has always been interesting to me. The fact that the citizens of UAE have embraced the modern world and all that it introduces and yet don't stray from their religion, it's a perfect example of the mentality that in my opinion, other Muslim countries should adopt. Then again, my point of view could be considered slightly biased seeing as how I am what I like to call "an Americanized Muslim."

       Back to today's presentation, I really liked Amanda's introduction to the country and the meaning behind the different colors. I was kind of shocked yet intrigued when she mentioned that the color black was seen as a symbol of dignity and elegance. I also thought it was slightly comical that the people of Dubai decide to put the various colors into their city rather than in their clothing.










      Out of all of the buildings that were mentioned, I thought the Burj Khalifa was the most interesting because it towers over the city at a height of 2,717 feet and includes a mosque and a pool. A building that holds both a mosque and a pool, would be unheard of in Algeria as well as other North African countries.

       In my opinion, Dubai is a place that brings the elegance to the Islamic culture. They keep it modern but stay true to the Islamic influences of architecture.

Peer Review

Rachel: I really liked her pictures and her information was easy to read. Her extra credit videos were interesting as well.


Paige: I liked how Paige focused more on the chairs versus interiors. It was different and refreshing compared to the others.

Mid-Century Modernism

       Mid-century Modernism started in the 1950s and continued well into the 60's. Common architecture features included flat roofs with angular details and asymmetrical profiles, expansive walls of glass, clean lines, wide floor plans. the style was also the first to use bi-level structures and connect indoor spaces to the outside. Mid-century modernism was extremely popular on the West Coast of the United States. The color schemes were based in nature-inspired earth tones and ranged from olive green and burnt amber to pumpkin orange and mustard yellow. Trendy colors such as pink, turquoise, and purple were used as well.

      One of the most influential designers of this period was Eero Saarinen, a Finnish American architect who emigrated to the United STates with his father. Eero  soon assumed the dictatorship at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield, Michigan but it wasn't until after World War II that he gained an international reputation for his sculptural furniture and structures. He worked often with Charles Eames, particularly with molded furniture forms.

PAST APPLICATIONS:

CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Peer Review

Riann: Her blog was super easy to read and I liked how she included pictures of the Herman Miller headquarters.

Scott: I like how Scott divided up the sections in his blog. His information flowed well even in that format. I also would have liked to see more images.

Herman Miller

       Originally known for it's cheap to medium priced furniture, Michigan Star Furniture Company sold Victorian style residential furniture. In 1923, DJ Depree bought the company with the help of his father-in-law who he immortalized by naming changing the company name to Herman Miller. 

       With Depree as President, he brought on many famous designers with whom Herman Miller collaborated.  Gilbert Rohde was contracted by Depree and in 1933, the first line with modern furniture pieces came out. Furniture designer George Nelson designed the famous Herman Miller logo.

       Herman Miller teamed up with designing couple Ray and Charles Eames. They were a  husband & wife duo that was both eccentric and avant garde in their visions. The team produced fabric designs, furniture designs,  and even movies. Charles even designed a leg splint for the War of the time.

       Other designers like Alexander Gerrard and Robert Prost were invited to collaborate with the Herman Miller designers as well.

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CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

Peer Review

Emma:  She pointed out all the important aspects and key points of the Art Deco style. Her pictures were interesting too.

Amanda M: She did a good job explaining the style of the time period and I also liked her pictures as well.

Art Deco

       The 1920's is only known for the era of the prohibition, it is also known for the beginning of the design movement known as Art Deco, a shortened version of the French phrase "Arts Décoratifs". In France, this period is actually referred to as "les années folles" meaning  'the crazy years.' During this time, many ideas of the international avant-garde in the fields of architecture and applied arts were brought together. Originating in France, this style was well-known for not being concerning itself with functionalism and technology. It was a fashion-oriented style that was strongly decorative and influenced by Art Nouveau. 

       It all started with l'Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The event received 4,000 guests on the day of inauguration with thousands of visitors each of the following days. The style later would become known as "Art Deco" a modern style characterized by a streamlined classicism, and geometric and symmetric compositions, The public however, was not as excited about this new style. they were a quite hesitant to accept it.

       Chevron shapes, zigzags, large mirrors, glass, and prominent light fixtures are the most noted characteristics of Art Deco. The transition of horizontal and vertical lines that create the silhouette of a staircase step were also used and very common during this time. Materials like ebony, zebra wood with inlays of ivory, tortoise-shell, leather, and polished metals are all examples of luxury materials that are commonly used when designing Art Deco interiors. 

PAST APPLICATIONS:

CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

EXTRA CREDIT:

It's in French, but the man basically takes you on a tour around the city of Paris, talking about the different buildings that were constructed during the Art Deco period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j63-tY3okk&list=PLGYKyocXgHJLhj84fYZrogiPhi4hLCAKf

Peer Review

Ashley: I thought the images that Ashley  posted were really interesting. My favorite ones were of the Barcelona exhibition and the recreation of  the Villa Tugendaht.

Miryam: Miryam summed up the characteristics of the International Style well and focused on Mies Van der Rohe. The images provided were nice as well.

The Emergence of Modernism: Le Corbusier

       With the end of the first World War, certain characteristics in the interior design field emerged. There was a simplification of forms, rejection of ornamentation, adoption of glass, steel and concrete, transparancy of buildings, "honest construction", and the acceptance of industrialized mass-production techniques. These characteristics were the basis of what was soon to be referred to as " the international style."

      One of the architects who was a major player during this time was Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, formerly known as Le Corbusier. He was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, and writer, but he was most known for his urban design. He was born in Switzerland but became a French citizen in 1930. His career lasted 50 years with the construction of buildings across Europe, India, and the Americas. Le Corbusier's philosophy was to improve the industrialized urban cities such as Paris. 

       Le Corbusier respected historic design in the sense that he combined his passion for classical Greek architecture with the modern machine. He published his ideas in a book titled "Vers une Architecture" meaning "towards one architecture."In his book, he refers to the house as a "machine for living." What Le Corbusier meant was that homes were essentially an industrial product that should include functional furniture. In his mind, the industrial processes responded to human needs.

     PAST APPLICATION:

CURRENT APPLICATION:

Below are examples of homes that in my opinion were inspired by Le Corbusier's work like Villa Savoye and how it's elevated off the ground.

EXTRA CREDIT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A07NnUu6x0 

Peer Review

Holli: Holli's post flowed very well and it was easy to read. I thought that the images of the interiors she had chosen were interesting. The staircase railings look amazing. I also enjoyed the video that she posted as extra credit.

Amanda V:  I like how Amanda noted that the industrial look was colder, cleaner, did not use any ornamentation, and was more about function.

Frank Lloyd Wright

     Due to the destruction from World War I in 1918, architects took the opportunity to redesign the world and look at things from a different perspective. With advances in technology around the corner, the modern world was closer than ever before. Automobiles, trains, skyscrapers, the birth of the camera, moving pictures... Machines had become the future and the source of inspiration for all. Rejecting past and historical design styles, the industrial style was embraced and revolutionized.

 

     During this time, there were four major pioneers: Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies van de Rohe. They were thought of as the "originators" of the modern movement. 

     Frank Lloyd Wright was the first major modern architect. He designed over 1,000 structures and compelted 532 works during his career. He created "architecture of democracy" and took into consideration the unity, planning, nature, site, and materials from the very beginning. Wright also considered organic architecture which refers to the effect on man and the environment. 

        Although Wright had also created commercial spaces, he was prominently known for creating residential homes and within these homes, Wright had  also designed the stained glass features in his spaces. It's said that his color palette was drawn form indigenous plants of the Midwest.

PAST/CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

  Here are some images of Wright's sketches or plans with the corresponding current/recent image of the interior or building

Robie House:

The Winslow House, 1893:

Johnson Wax Building, 1939:

EXTRA CREDIT:

 A video of Frank Lloyd Wright talking about how architects and engineers can tell you a lot about something but they don't actually understand it. I thought it was interesting, and slightly humorous. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK420aQmI3I