Brutalism

Brutalism is a particular style which flourished between the 1950's to the mid 1970's. The term "Brutalism" is derived from  the French word " Beton brut" -which literally means "raw concrete". Many claim that this style started thanks to the modernist architect, Le Corbusier  who was very inclined in using concrete as the main material. During those times, one has to still keep in mind that many countries were still emerging from the effects of the Second World War in which it had brought a lot of destruction, especially the morale of the citizens.  People were experiencing very rough time in building their lives again, hence one can make  a similarity with the rough texture incorporated in such style as well as the raw material.

Additionally, Le Corbusier along many other architects believed that such style could solve the ever rising problem of social housing as well as there is a huge influence from the modernist era such as flat surfaces, lifted bases as well as abstract forms.

 Unite d’ Habitation by Le Corbusier, 1952

 This project was completed in 1952, and it was considered amongst the project of such scale and that it focused on communal living for all the inhabitants to shop, play, live and come together in this so called "vertical garden city ". This idea was based on bringing the villa within a larger volume that allowed the occupants to have their own space but at the same time they could easily enjoy their time together by gathering -something which was lacking back in the days due to the War Effect. An interesting fact about this structure is that the roof has a garden terrace that has a a running track, a club, a kindergarten, a gym and a very shallow pool.

 Hubert H. Humphrey Building by Marcel Breuer, 1977

Frank Gehry who's 87 years old, has designed unconventional angles for the stata center at MIT.

Stata center at MIT by Frank Gehry, 2004

A great influence from Frank Gehry's work of the Stata center building, are the wearable rings that Elizabeth Schmitt designed. The angles and curved design of both rings have the interpretation of the unfinished concrete texture surface. All the elements applied on the rings are very much alike to how Frank Gehry design.

Frank Gehry's wearable architecture by Elizabeth Schmitt, 2016

This 27 storey slab block building that Erno Goldfinger has built is under the Brutalist architecture design with the purpose of housing people. The most striking part about this structure is the composition of the floors packed over each other which makes it so distinctive from the surrounding buildings. There are also some adjacent blocks next to it and all three are connected  by bridges  at the third floor.

Trellic Tower in London

References:

Sparkle.com, 2016. Frank Gehry’s wearable architecture Sparkle. [online] Available at: http://www.sparkle.com/frank-gehrys-wearable-architecture-2/#.V1BKc5F96Uk [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Dezeen, 2014. The Dezeen guide to Brutalist architecture. [online] Available at: <http://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/10/dezeen-guide-to-brutalist-architecture-owen-hopkins/> [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Lee F. Mindel, F. 2016. 10 Buildings People Love to Hate but Shouldn’t Architectural Digest. [online] Architectural Digest. Available at: <http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/brutalist-architecture-masterpieces> [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Medium, 2012. The Ugly-Beauty Of Brutalism — The Awl. [online] Available at: <https://theawl.com/the-ugly-beauty-of-brutalism-41ae4f80a683#.6fou9jqw2> [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Gothic Architecture

The Gothic style takes us back at the time between the 1100's and 1200's. Studying the architecture of the great medieval Gothic large scaled architecture, one could see how important and significant the Religious and Catholic value was in the buildings and structures all around Europe.

The Gothic style has seven characteristics, if one approaches a church or a place that is Gothic, one can easily recognize it from one of the elements listed down below.  

These are the famous startling grotesque gargoyles that we see on the Gothic cathedrals and churches. There are different types of gargoyles, some are water spouts, others have heraldic meaning and then there are the winged and fanged beasts designed to scare the evil spirits. 

Gargoyles

There are three dimensional detailed engraved sculptures in the triangular space of the pediment over the porch, that depicts Christ in glory surrounded by saints and angels. The Gothic architecture is highlighted as the first time that beauty and aesthetic values are incorporated into the building design.

Pointed Gothic Portal porch

If one can observe the interior of the cathedral, one can see the amount of light coming in from the two large stained glass rose windows specifically made and put in the north and south walls of transepts and between west front towers. These are filled with tracery and complex of stone, positioned to catch the best of the suns's rays, these create a kind of medieval magic lantern show with told bible stories.    

Lights and airy interior

Here we can spot another element of the pointed arches Gothic design. looking at the top one can see a tracery window that has been designed by Thomas and Regnault de Cormont and Robert de Luzarches, that illustrated the division of window arches in two. Looking further down, we find large pointed arches that strengthen and compliment the whole structure of the interior. In between one arch and another we can see these windows that were designed purposely to have three figures that represent religious beliefs.  

Pointed Arches

Looking at the vaulted ceiling of the Cologne cathedral found in Germany, which was in progress since 1248 and halted in 1743. To exceed the ornament of the cathedral the ceiling was designed to be vaulted, as it is utilised to spread force of the weight from the upper floors. This also gives an impression of a higher ceiling.

The vaulted ceiling

The vaulted ceiling style of the cologne cathedral has been influenced from the Basilica of saint Denis cathedral, which is found in France. The cathedral is considered to be the first Gothic church that has begun in 1144.  

St. Denis cathedral, France c.1130 

The flying buttresses were of an external support to the building and additionally, effectively it spreads the weight of the building structure, taking the weight off the walls and transfers the weight directly to the ground. The buttresses also define the extreme Gothic decorative design.

Flying Buttress, St Vitrus cathedral in Prague castle

One of the Gothic characteristics was its height, thanks to the buttresses use of technique they could build higher and taller, thus allowing the weight of the architecture to spread for a steady structure. This gave them more potential to reach up their beliefs to heaven.

Grand, tall Gothic Architecture

References:

Exploring-castles.com, 2016. The Seven Key Characteristics of Gothic Architecture: From the Gargoyle to the Flying Buttress. [online] Available at: <http://www.exploring-castles.com/characteristics_of_gothic_architecture.html> [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Encyclopedia.com, 2016. Robert de Luzarches Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Robert de Luzarches. [online] Available at: <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Robert_de_Luzarches.aspx> [Accessed 2 Jun. 2016]

Glancey, J. 2006. Architecture. London: DK

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright who's a significant American architect, interior designer, writer and educator had the greatest design influences in the United States of the first half of the twentieth century. He has designed over 1,000 structures and some over 500 of which were completed.

Wright also often designed the furniture, lighting fixtures, art glass, carpets, table linens, candle sticks, and many other items. Wright's decorative art, furniture, textile designs, and so on are being reputable and reproduced in today's market, helping to create a new wave of interest in the design of Frank Lloyd Wright.


One of the most finest architecture that Wright has designed is the falling water house. The building was built over a waterfall hidden deep in in wooded countryside between 1936 and 1939. The reinforced concrete house has been expensive to maintain and has also been in danger of serious structural failure, since it is shoved right into the rocks over where the water fall access. This house has a streamlined design. From all its responsibilities, it proves that its ultramodern style the design can enhance in the category of natural landscapes.

Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1930's 

This is the interior design of the falling water house, the materials used were of wood, concrete and stone cladding. In the picture shown down below, the column is covered in stone cladding, this is to match the exterior environment with the interior. Observing the furniture design that most of it has been designed by Wright, looks like it is based on a modern artistic style, the sofa has it's own particular lavishness including the colours that are giving a fun colourful environment. The flagstone floors in the interiors are designed to be linked with the rock below of the architecture. 

Falling Water Interior Design by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1930's

More projects of Frank Lloyd Wright is the Willits' House, 1901. This was the first true Prairie style house that Wright has developed after lots of experimentation that he engaged through the years. The terms about the building Wright has occurred himself with the principles of the plan, structure, furnishings leaded glass and interior and exterior of Willit's house, all elements have a deluxe combination together.  

Willits House by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1901

Wright said: ''the influence of the prairie, is firmly and broadly associated with the site''. 

Looking at another interior design of a house that Wright has designed at the time of the Art and Crafts movement. One could observe and look at the uniqueness and style of the furniture that he designed himself. Such as the high chairs that give an impression of formality and the dining table with its corner columns, that might be found uncomfortable. 

The interior has its own simplicity and alignment which somehow represents a high quality material. I could see how the wooden border of the ceiling is complimenting with the same theme of the long straight chairs that as design they have a number of long thin strips at the back of the chair.  

Frank Lloyd Wright, dining room furniture, 1900

Looking at it overall it seems to have a touch of a traditional style that includes other influences like the stained glass used in the lamps that are on top of the long legged table, reminded me of the art Deco style since the design applied on the glass is designed with geometrical diamond shapes.




  References:

Glancey, J. 2006. Architecture. London: DK

Fallingwater.org, 2016. Fallingwater Home. [online] Available at: <http://www.fallingwater.org/> [Accessed 1 June 2016]

Biography.com, 2016. [online] Available at: <http://www.biography.com/people/frank-lloyd-wright-9537511> [Accessed 1 June 2016]

Vam.ac.uk, 2016. Arts & Crafts: America 1890 - 1916 - Victoria and Albert Museum. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/arts-and-crafts-america-1890-1916/> [Accessed 1 June 2016]

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is referred as the ''new art form'' for the new century, it was popularized only for a short time between the 1890's and 1910, since people got tired of seeing a lot of decorative designs around them, including curvatures and detailed designs that include leaves, different sort of insect types, that were being applied on, products, interiors, architecture, clothing, and much more.

This is an Art Nouveau perfume bottle that is made out of glass and sterling silver that is overlay. As noticed the design includes lots of curvatures with leaves. The form of the perfume bottle itself is also has it's own curvatures and sense of delicacy, elegance and class.

Classic Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Overlay perfume bottle

These are Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer collection clothing. As we can see the first two from the left, the models that are worn in white are wearing clothing that includes lace representing curvatures and details that are influenced from the Art Nouveau style. The two models that are next to the models that are worn in white, have a lovely Italian print representing the Art Nouveau decorated design, including soft punchess of colour which was applied on material, embroidery and beading may have been added on the outfit. Then there's the last model that is on the right, wearing a light soft green colour dress that has a v shaped lining and sultry tunics in a mix of lace. All five extraordinary outfits have their own particular detail to reveal the style of Roberto Cavalli's fashion.

Art Nouveau Roberto Cavalli spring/summer 2013

I include one great German-Austrian, named Michael Thonet who's known for the invention of bentwood furniture. The rocking chair shown in the picture could be the first design that Michael Thonet has designed back in the 1860's. Long curvatures and lots of spiral decor in the chair is applied. At the time of Art Nouveau designers and architects still believed on applying extra decorations to the material.

Rocking chair No.1, Koritschan, Moravia by Michael Thonet,1860 

As one could obviously notice, looking at the Charles and Ray Eames chair the design has got at it's simplest organic form. Representing this picture as an example, to show the developed evolution of the chairs, on how the design has continued replicating the older techniques, re-transform it and apply it to the adapted style. It is how Charles and Ray Eames have experimented with materials and added on the same function of the original rocking chair.
 

''Rar'' by Charles and Ray Eames

The picture below is of Victor Horta who was a Belgian architect and designer, 1861-1947. At times Horta used to be creditted as the first to introduce the style to architecture from the decorative arts, especially in Belgium.

Victor Horta has built a hotel in Brussels called 'Tassel'. It was built for the Belgian scientist and professor Emile Tassel. The hotel was considered as the first Art Nouveau building, as it had high innovative planning and its chosen ground use of material and decorations. As one could see the 1st floor has a strong element of the style, the windows that are in stained glass, are separated by stone and columns. Then looking at the 2nd floor gallery you can see it with high iron, columns and clear glass to let in light for the interior. This is found to be very original as a choice of material and structure for the facade of a house. Looking at the 3rd floor the terrace is just with iron railings.

Hotel Tassel built by Victor Horta 1893-94

In this picture we can see the interior of the Tassel hotel designed and created also by Victor Horta. Horta as an interior designer, he has shown the ultimate of his skills, on decorating and designing in every single detail, such as: door handles, woodwork, panels, windows that are in stained glass, mosaic flooring and the rest of the furnishing. The amount of detailed work of this hotel, specified on the art Nouveau style is incredible, the way Horta has combined the luxury of the style and applied all the design in the interior is glorious. 

Victor Horta, Van Eetvelde House, Brussels, 1895

Hector Guimard is a very important figure in Paris, since he was the one who has introduced the Art Nouveau style. Guimard was another designer that he used to build as a whole including the wallpapers, furniture, floor tiles, stained glass, doors, tiles and much more.

What we can see in the picture is the entrance for the metro station. The way Guimar has designed it, the roof looks like a fan or rather the tail of a pigeon. The interior glass panels are all made in stained glass with the same patterned design that have long, sinuous, organic lines. As noticed the structure is all based on art Nouveau curved style made in iron.

Subway entrance in Paris by Hector Guimard  

Looking at another interior design example representing a classical, art Nouveau style decorated with leaves and stylistic forms of structures in furniture, railings, decorative coving and columns. As noticed this large villa has lots of wide stairs and wide open area, this also includes a classical order column that is called -Tuscan. The style of this large house shows a mixture of styles, yet it kept its unique look with decorative touches.

Art Nouveau, interior design

Compared to nowadays the design of most apartments are being minimized with small rooms and everything in a compact way.



References:

Bottle, C.,2016. Classic Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Overlay Perfume Bottle. [online] Ruby Lane. <Available at: https://www.rubylane.com/item/472318-101x20RL3489/Classic-Art-Nouveau-Sterling-Silver-Overlay> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Intern.strabrecht.nl, 2016. Architectuur Art Nouveau. [online] Available at: <http://intern.strabrecht.nl/sectie/ckv/08/Art-nouveau/Architectuur/CKV-f0001.htm> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Products, T., 2015. Thonet – Variety of Products. [online] Museum-boppard.de. Available at: <http://museum-boppard.de/explore/thonet-varietyofproducts/#singleobjects> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Mandylor, S., 2012. Art Nouveau Fantasy: Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2013. [online] It's All Style To Me. Available at: <http://itsallstyletome.com/2012/09/25/art-nouveau-fantasy-roberto-cavalli-springsummer-2013/> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Art-nouveau-around-the-world.org, 2016. Hector Guimard (1867-1942). [online] Available at: <http://www.art-nouveau-around-the-world.org/en/artistes/guimard.htm> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Task 4 -Essay

The Maltese designer that I interviewed is Kurt Vella. From his interest of style Kurt specifies on the Modern style, ''even though the contemporary style is coming into fashion'', he said. 

I was surprised by his answer after asking him if there was anyone that influences his own practice, and he replied ''my work is inspired by the client''. As he finds it very challenging and of an inspiration to contribute what the client wants from his or her habits and needs. After discussing all the needs and wants of the client he works on the distributed responses to create the clients desires. 

One of his most exciting works he mentioned was when he needed to design the offices of the AppleCore Foods. 

Since the requested theme of his client's project was based to be on music he designed the style of the place modern, it's where he included large formatted prints all over the place.

The characteristics adapted on this particular project were; to take good care of great details within costings, the chosen range of the furniture's quality was between low to medium, yet it still has a good sustainability... He said that from all the money he saved from the furniture, he spent them on large inspirational music murals. The ceiling was left raw, leaving the equipment and services shown, sprayed in dark grey. 

He concludes saying: that the colours from the mural and furniture, it created a very fun atmosphere to work in.

The photos shown below represent the project that Kurt Vella has designed. 

#1. 'AppleCore Foods' offices by Kurt Vella, 2013

#2. 'AppleCore Foods' offices by Kurt Vella, 2013

#3. 'AppleCore Foods' offices by Kurt Vella, 2013

#4. 'AppleCore Foods' offices by Kurt Vella, 2013

Observing the space and balance of the interior design and analysing certain elements that are combined with the chosen chairs and lighting colours, with different styles of furniture, floor tiles, use of large glass panels and large music murals, I could understand how the designer has put together the modern/ contemporary style, in addition with the traditional furniture, that reflects the classic European decor.

I am associating the frame work of the white seated chair design of picture no. #4 with the cantilever model of Mart Stem that was designed at the time of the Bauhaus era, where there were two other important designers that have designed other cantilever chairs, like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer.   

This chair was made of out chromium-plated or lacquered metal frame, with seat, back and armrest that are made out of saddle leather. Comparing both models, one could assume that there has been more development on comfort and luxury to the recent cantilever chairs.   

Cantilever armchair by Mart Stem, 1926

I could see and understand that the use of large glass panels were used to avoid the enclosure of the space and yet as an office one can still discuss and talk things in private. The large music murals have become really outstanding with the rest of the surroundings, as it featured the place with its characteristics that are in colour and music instruments included in the murals, they really gave a life to the place. 

Looking at the overall interior design style of what Kurt Vella has designed for a company, this may show that the design is being popularized for its aesthetics and function, on keeping the place clean with simplicity.    

References:

Dwell Candy, 2014. Traditional Interior Design. Dwell Candy. [online] Available at: <http://www.dwellcandy.com/interior-design-styles-2/traditional/> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Classicdesign.it, 2016. Mart Stam chair. [online] Available at: <http://www.classicdesign.it/productDetails_lng-1-product-43-category-3-Mart%20Stam%20chair%20Chairs.html> [Accessed 31 May 2016]

Art Deco in 1920's

Art Deco flourished from France in the 1920's after world war I. The style consists lots on ancient revivals, it also incorporates certain styles such as Cubism, Russian Constructivism and Italian Futurism with abstraction, distortion and simplification in use of lines, particularly geometric and angular shapes and highly with rich colours, lavish ornamentation, technology and the streamlining that reflected the magic of speed. In the pictures found below, there are lots of design examples that interpret the style of Art Deco.

A clear and black elegant perfume bottle at the times of Art Deco style in the 1920s with a shape of a fan.

Art Deco Perfume bottle 

Bob hairstyle trend:
Colleen Moore was an American film actress, until one day she became one of the most fashionable stars at the era, it's where she helped popularizing the bobbed hair cut. The young western woman in the roaring twenties used to call it flappers. Basically it was a new breed to them at that time, where young energetic youths used to listen to jazz music, drink and dance. Ladies used to wear excessive make up and some other ladies that had short curly hair used to wear bob wigs to keep the trend ongoing.

Colleen Moore, actress 1899-1988 Bob hairstyle trend 

This is a crafted, daring nude tulle with a daring deep V-neck, inspired by the art deco movement, it is decorated with black beading adorns, the dress is perfectly balanced between refine and risque.

Deco Beaded Gown by Zuhair Murad  

As one could notice, the flapper dress shown in the image below is art Deco, yet one could also recognize that the golden collar that the model has around her neck and up the waist with black stripes reminds us of the Egyptian style. Art Deco is a style where it involves a mixture of styles in it, until it enriches its splendid classic decorative style. 

Flapper Dress

The Great Gatsby (2013) which was a romantic drama film, established the style of art Deco. In the picture below we could see one of the main actresses wearing a long classy dress that is made with clear transparent beads, with a mini fur shoulder poncho and another round fur neck scarf on top of the other, along with a metal round head band and elegant pearly bracelets in each hand.

The Great Gatsby film inspired dresses

Chrysler building is a masterpiece in Manhattan representing a classic example of  Art Deco style. Art Deco artists used vertical lines and geometric shapes on using arcs, circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and more in repetitive patterns.

Chrysler Art Deco Building, 

This is an American streamline design coffee table that was retailed in 1930's by the Modernage Furniture Company in New York City. The coffee table has two curved supports in brown lacquer combine with the top flat rectangular black lacquer and the shorter rectangular black base, with two brown lacquer table rest feet.  

Modernage American Art Deco Streamlining design Coffee table 

Art Deco is considered to be popularized in its elegance, sophisticated architecture and objects made from exotic materials to mass production. 

References:

Polyvore, 2016. Zuhair Murad Deco Beaded Gown. [online] Available at: <http://www.polyvore.com/zuhair_murad_deco_beaded_gown/thing?context_id=149773105&context_type=collection&id=129528765> [Accessed 28 May 2016]

dress?, W., 2015. Dress: the great gatsby vintage 1920s flapper art deco new year's eve 2015 2016 new year's eve party. [online] Wheretoget. Available at: <http://wheretoget.it/look/332969> 

[Accessed 28 May 2016]

Regent Antiques. (2016). Art Deco Style Clear and Black Crystal Perfume Bottle. [online] Available at: <https://www.regentantiques.com/itemDetails/S0010-Art-Deco-Style-Clear-and-Black-Crystal-Perfume-Bottle#> [Accessed 28 May 2016]

Artdecogown.tumblr.com, 2016. Art Deco Gown Art Deco Dress. [online] Available at: http://artdecogown.tumblr.com/ [Accessed 28 May 2016]

Vam.ac.uk, 2016. Art Deco - Victoria and Albert Museum. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco/> [Accessed 28 May 2016]

Luhrmann, B., Luhrmann, B., Pearce, C., DiCaprio, L., Mulligan, C. and Edgerton, J., 2016. The Great Gatsby 2013. [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/> [Accessed 28 May 2016]

1920-30.com, 2016. The Bob Hairstyle. [online] Available at: <http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/the-bob.html> [Accessed 28 May 2016]

Modernism.com, 2016. Modernage American Art Deco Streamline Design Coffee Table Modernism. [online] Available at: <http://modernism.com/items/39/coffee-tables/198-135-modernage-american-art-deco-streamline-design-coffee-table> [Accessed 28 May 2016].

Task 3 -Infographic

Infographic:

POST MODERNISM

Early 20th Century Bauhaus, De Stijl, and Constructivism

Constructivism began in Russia after the revolution, in 1917 and lasted until the 1922. Many contemporary international constructivist designers made paintings and sculptures, dating back to 1911. There was an influence from the modern European styles such as the Cubism and the Italian Futurism.

One of the prints that have appeared for the first time on the catalogue for the exhibition in 1922, stated that all artists should now 'go into the factory, where the real body of life is made', (Julier and Julier, 2005).

Constructivism -Promotional poster, designed to promote Amo-Bek Nazarov's 1927

Constructivisim has heavily impacted the traditional art, however besides painting and sculpture, constructivism influenced architecture, poetry, theater and even the consumer market. At the second half of the 20th century Social Realism generated an artistic movement where it depicted social and racial injustice and the economic hard worship through pictures of life's struggles.

Socialist-Realist Sculpture in Vilnius 

This is a Vladimir Tatlin's constructivist design. The geometry, diagonal and vertical lines shown in the model represent the Russian Constructivism. Practically the constuctivist design was a design proposal to be constructed in Moscow city, Russia. (Passportmagazine.ru, 2016)

Vladimir Tatlin's Constructivist design
for the monument to the third international 

The movement of De stijl, that means The Style, initiated in 1917. The style of this movement represents ultimate simplicity and abstraction, due to the reduction of work after world war 1, it was a way of how they wanted to express a Utopia idea of harmony and order . The associated artists within this movement are Theo Van Doesburg, Piet Mondrian along with the architect Gerrit Rietveld.

This is to show the influences taken from paintings of Piet Mondrian.

Tableau 1, oil on canvas, Piet Mondrian 1921 

This is one building that was released completely according to the principles of De Stijl. Simple, use of primary colours along with black and white.

The Rietveld Schroder House, 1924

This was one of the first explorations of De stijl, by Gerrit Rietveld. In the picture there is a red and blue chair.  One could see the simplicity in the constructed design of the chair, the solid painted colours and overall the geometric lines that are evidently shown with rectangular framing. Yet looking at the table that is beside the chair, it has its own particular abstraction, made with different geometric shapes and altered surfaces. All characteristics shown in this chair, were influenced and applied differently on other furniture and products.

Red and Blue chair by Gerrit Rietveld, 1917 

There are lots of products that were and still are being influenced by the movement style of De stijl, such as the Modrian table by Bernard Vuarnesson has been influenced by Piet Mondrian and the principles of De Stijl itself. Again the strong black border line splits up the primary colours, that are shown: blue, red and yellow, along with a white colour.

Mondrian/ De Stijl influence, table by Bernard Vuarnesson, 2011

Bauhaus is a school of art and design that opened in Weimar Germany in 1919, by Walter Gropius. The Bauhaus moved to Dessau then Berlin and finally it closed down by the Nazis in 1933. The definition of Bauhaus is Home Construction. It's where teachers had given lots of ideas and creativity to inspire students and let students free to experiment and do whatever they had in mind. Architects, sculptors and painters all were getting the manual labor of the craftsmanship. (En.wikiarquitectura.com, 2016) European Art academies have thought each design subject separately. The Bauhaus offered many training foundations in art and design disciplines, they believed in variety.

Bauhaus School in Weimar, Germany 1919

Gropius has put together the ambitions of the design process and unite art, techniques and aesthetics, continuing by developing new materials and technology without neglecting the legacy of the craftsmanship, gather all the ideas and create functionality.

With the contribution of what Walter Gropius altered in the legacy of teaching and the design processes that has put together in Bauhaus, has effected the world and from then until today, we still follow his way of how he divorced art and the industrial production on one side and the other between art and crafts. In Bauhaus they kept on developing new materials and technology without neglecting the legacy of craftsmanship.


Marcel Breuer is perhaps best known for the design of his famous tubular steel Wassily chair. The design of the chair which was inspired from the bicycle construction, might have been new at that time, because it stands on two bent u shaped design that is made out of tubular steel and fabric. At the time of Bauhaus such materials like: glass, bent wood, tubular steel or chrome plating and leather were new. So the approach of the public, when seeing such designs, were being astounded.

Wassily Chair Model B3,by Marcel Breuer, 1925

Another tubular chrome chair with comfortable black leather seating.

Chrome Cantilever tubular Bauhaus style chair 

I relate the bending technique, form and materials of the chrome cantilever tubular Bauhaus style chair with the contemporary Girdo cantilevered dining chair that was launched in 2016.  Although the model chair that is shown down below in the picture is made out stainless steel, leather and round bent wood, the features of the chair reminds me of the above picture that was made at the time of the Bauhaus.

 Clean plain surfaces, with simple modern luxurious form, leaving the wood grain shown, and the use of leather covers representing more softness and comfort in the material. The model itself since its a cantilever chair reminds me of the saying of form follows function.

Girado Cantilevered dining chair by Team7, 2016

Reference:

YouTube, 2016. Architecture in the Early 20th Century, Modernism, Bauhaus, DeStijl and International Style. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUb1ficeiD8> [Accessed 27 May 2016]

Moma.org, 2016. MoMA | Inventing Abstraction. [online] Available at: <http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/inventingabstraction/?work=226> [Accessed 27 May 2016]
Christies.com, 2014. Collecting Guide: 19th and 20th century posters. [online] Available at: <http://www.christies.com/features/Collecting_Posters-5054-1.aspx> [Accessed 27 May 2016].

Passportmagazine.ru.,2016. An American Architect in Moscow: Frank Williams. [online] Available at: <http://www.passportmagazine.ru/article/1311/> [Accessed 27 May 2016]

YouTube, 2016. What Is Social Realism?. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soJ2BKXqGKQ> [Accessed 27 May 2016]

Abicontextualstudies.blogspot.com.mt, 2016. Contextual Studies: Social Realism, Constructivism, Abstract Expressionism. [online] Available at: <http://abicontextualstudies.blogspot.com.mt/2013/01/social-realism-constructivism-abstract.html> [Accessed 27 May 2016]

Flask, D.,2016. De Stijl : Design Is History. [online] Designishistory.com. Available at: <http://www.designishistory.com/1920/de-stijl/> [Accessed 27 May 2016].

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Janssen, H. and White, M., 2011. The story of De Stijl. New York: Abrams.

Julier, G and Julier, G. (2005). The Thames & Hudson dictionary of design since 1900. London:Thames & Hudson.

The highlight of the Arts and Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement was one of the most influential periods, it began in Britain around the 1800 and continued spreading in North America and Europe until the 1910. Later it continued emerging in Japan in the late 1920's or 1930's. It's what they call it Mingei, meaning that it's the Japanese folk art movement.

Detail from a season ticket for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society,
                by Walter Crane, England, UK, 1890. 

Three most important reformers of the Art and Crafts movement were; A.W.N Pugin -who's a designer and wrote the provided of the foundation of the later development of the Arts and Crafts Gothic Revival, then there's John Ruskin, Owen Jones and William Morris. Yet, the most two influential figures were Ruskin, who was a theorist and a critique that was based on art, society and labour. Then there's the famous William Morris who was a designer, writer and an activist.

Morris has put forward the philosophies of John Ruskin into practice, in order to put forward great value of work, dedication and appreciation of work in the craftsmanship and lastly the result of the natural beauty of the material itself.

William Morris also had a company called the Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. where he used to produced decorations in every home. He started from producing furniture, wallpaper and stained glass.


With all the success in design and manufacture, Morris had been renowned internationally and people (guilds and societies) began to get inspired from his ideas, and I must say that his original stylistic designs are still ongoing in nowadays trend.


The most astonishing and most beautiful hand printed designed textiles, that have an inexhaustible resource of patterns applied on fabric. The pictures shown down below are authentic versions of Morris, original designs and alongside, new interpretations are being created up to date on fabrics and wallpapers.

Achantus sofa 1875 and Branch armchair 1871 Tapestry designs

Other few of more astonishing original hand printed patterns, applied on cushion covers of William Morris.

William Morris hand printed patterns, on cushion covers

These are Morris's original and fashionable wallpaper designs, that began in the 1860's and were being hand printed by Jeffrey & Co. N

 

William Morris, Artichoke wallpaper, 1898

As one can see Morris did not only design leaves and flower gardening designs but also fruit and trees.

William Morris, Fruit wallpaper, 1864

William Morris & Co. The Brook 

Nowadays wallpapers has become a second option when it comes to make a feature wall, but when I stay browsing or approach such decorative feature wall designs (suchlike the picture down below) or fashion trends at some particular shops, automatically my mind heads straights to the patterned and flourished wallpaper designs that William Morris produced, yet from my personal point of view the contemporary designs won't beat Morris's style.

Denisbrott -Floral Feature Wall, 2016

Other contemporary examples of feature walls that are being designed in homes are the cladding tiles that will be installed on one wall. There are tiles that come out in many different materials, such as; stone, wood, exposed bricks. Others like using an aesthetic and functional wall that serves them to install more on shelving's to decor with their own taste of style, that can be books/ plants/ vintage objects and more.

Stone cladding wall

This is one of Pugin's Gothic architecture designs that was built in Manchester, 1839-42. Clearly the pointed arches show a good significance of the Gothic revival style and the rose circular window is also symbolizing as part of the Gothic architectural style.

A.W.N. Pugin. St. Wilfrids. Hulme, Manchester 1839-42

This shows the influence of the huge impact of John Ruskin's theories.

John Ruskin has pleaded on how the hand craftsmanship had decreased year by year. As a consequence it had increased the isolation of the designer of an object from its maker, due to the scale of the commercial production.

Study of a hand-carved relief of John Ruskin, 1882  

This is the Crystal Palace that was structured in glass and iron and designed by Joseph Paxton in the 1801-1865, which was purposely built to display other exhibitors work.

An important figure to involve, is Prince Albert who have decided to conceive the first international exhibition, it's where over six million people have attended to this event. With that grand opportunity lots of artists and designers from different places falling under the British empire that have exhibited and shown their work, continued on building up their inspirations from every different kind of field of work. Including the observations of strength, durability, utility and quality of the iron and steel, machinery or textiles materials.

The Great Exhibition -Crystal Palace, 1851 

References:

Home Designing, 2008-16. Three striking modern home designs. [online] Available at: <http://www.home-designing.com/2014/02/three-striking-modern-home-designs> [4th May 2016]

. Faux painting ideas -Faux marble. [online] Available at: <http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com/Slideshow:Faux_Painting_Ideas#9> [4th May 2016]

 JesseWa, 2013. Arts and Crafts Movement. [video online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko3EM2ioGfs> [4th May 2016]

ou Learn on YouTube, 2013. Arts and Crafts: Design in a nutshell. [video online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBq73yxha0o> [4th May 2016]

Victor & Albert Museum, 2016. 'The Arts and Crafts Movement '. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/> [4th May 2016]

BBC, 2014. 'Joseph Paxton'. [online] Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/paxton_joseph.shtml> [4th May 2016]

Morris & Co., 2016. 'The Original William Morris & Co.'. [blog] Available at: <https://www.william-morris.co.uk/> [4th May 2016]

Verma. S, 2016. 9 feature wall ideas to dress up your home. [blog] Available at: <https://nestopia.com/blog/9-feature-wall-ideas-to-dress-up-your-home/> [4th May 2016]

 Pinkney. T, 2012. The William Morris Society in the United States. [online] Available at: <http://www.morrissociety.org/index.html> [4th May 2016]

King & McGaw, n.d.. Jersey and Guersey, Malta and Ceylon stand at the Great Exhibition, 1851. [online] Available at: <http://www.ssplprints.com/image/97634/jersey-and-guernsey-malta-and-ceylon-stand-at-the-great-exhibition-1851> [4th May 2016]