A Broad Design Spectrum

Because it involves architecture, industrial design, furniture design, and graphic design, discussing Mid-Century design cannot be done in a vacuum.  Originally, this style was popular from approximately 1933-1965. Modern design, in general, began after WW1 and includes the Art Deco era in the 1920s, while Midcentury Modern is more organic, and streamlined and encompasses the 1950s and 1960s. The Modern Movement inspires less clutter and includes only basic elements of living.

Less is More

Without a doubt, “simplicity” is the word most people would use to describe mid-century modern. Architects in this genre were moving away from ornamentation and molding, focusing more on clean lines and raw structure. Also, mid-century modern used flat planes, along with more angular compositions and asymmetrical profiles.  Additionally, this style is centered more on a connection with the outdoors, with large walls and doors made of glass. In the words of William Krisel, “MCM is the same today as it was in the 1950s because it is not a style and is based on solid principles of design and human needs, along with functionalism, respect for the environment, and solving the basic human desires for livability.”

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
― William Morris

Form Follows Function

Coined by Louis Sullivan, “form follows function” became a mantra to mid-century architects. While many structures had been built with the intent of being beautiful and (hopefully) giving a name to the designer, mid-century structures were built with the user or inhabitant in mind. We still appreciate architectural beauty today. However, with the rapid pace of 21^st Century life, functionality is more important than ever.

The Greats of the Mid-Century Modern Movement

Most notably, modern architects like Richard Neutra, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles & Ray Eames, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank Gehry have had a major influence on architecture. Their visions have also inspired industrial, furniture, and textile design.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s bold designs are considered some of the most recognizable in the modern movement. Inspired by the flat topography of the Midwest, Wright designed his now-famous Prairie-style architecture. Although Wright did not coin the term “Usonian”, he is the brainchild of Usonian architecture beginning in the late 1920s. Wright believed in the “American Dream” and wanted to design reasonably priced homes for the masses. In addition, he became interested in urban planning.

This Usonian style was his vision of designing modest and affordable one-level homes. They usually did not have a garage and boasted characteristic strong horizontal lines. Every square inch of space of these modest structures was utilized. By incorporating built-in furniture, simple materials, and open floor plans, these buildings were most assuredly functional. Also, Wright introduced prefabrication techniques during this time to lower construction costs. For more about this topic, I suggest you read about Broadacre City.

Although there are volumes of information and a lot of history about Mid-Century Modern design, these characteristics are why I, and many others, enjoy seeing and living with Modern design.

If You Appreciate MCM Architecture

We have the perfect pieces to begin, or add to, your own collection! Visit our GALLERY for beautiful, original pieces that embody the spirit of the mid-century modern style.

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

“The Usonian House I” and “The Usonian Automatic,” The Natural House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Horizon, 1954, pp. 69,70-71m 81, 198-199

“Frank Lloyd Wright On Architecture: Selected Writings (1894-1940), “ Frederick Gutheim, ed., Grosset’s Universal Library, 1941, p.100

Blake, Peter. The Master Builders. Knopf, 1960, pp. 304-305, 366

Chavez, Mark. “Prefabricated Homes,” National Park service, nps.gov [accessed July 17, 2018]

“American System-Built Homes,” Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, franklloydwright.org July 17, 2018]

Thoughtco.com

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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Most collectors of architectural drawings look for pieces by architects they know of. Often they will buy art that they can show off and explain to their friends.  In addition, buyers aren’t always architects themselves.  Children that dream of becoming architects often grow to have an appreciation for architecture as I did thanks to my father.

Fine art is defined as “art (such as painting, sculpture, or music) concerned primarily with the creation of beautiful objects.” In the eyes of these collectors, architectural renderings by the greats are indeed beautiful. They are able to appreciate the lean and linear features of technical drawings.

Art and Science Together

“Architecture is art and science enclosing a space,” David Jameson states in an interview by Art & Antiques. I believe this is an excellent description of how these two seemingly opposite ventures can come together to create something beautiful. These pictures must be both visually appealing and scientifically balanced.

Drawing as a Lost Art

In his article for the New York Times, Michael Graves mourns the loss of imagination that occurs when architectural drawings are only created by a computer. “In a handmade drawing, whether on an electronic tablet or on paper, there are intonations, traces of intentions, and speculation. This is not unlike the way a musician might intone a note or how a riff in jazz would be understood subliminally and put a smile on your face.” Those are the details that give each hand-drawn piece its personality, its intrigue.

Begin Your Collection of Fine Art

If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin your own collection or add to it, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original pieces by Raymond Loewy and several other artists. Each piece has its own intonations and speculation, and both aesthetically and scientifically interesting.

The post Architectural Drawings as Fine Art appeared first on Form Function Art.