Post Modernism

Like most design movements Post-Modernism began as a reaction against the previous style. Modernism had a long reign which included strict design rules. Post-Modernism came about when people were tired of all of the white walls and over-simplistic non ornamented interiors.
A famous Post-Modernist, Robert Venturi who went to Princeton University for Architecture wrote two books that influenced Post-Modernism. The first book, "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture," discussed how Modernism was limited because of the values it held about simplicity and logic. It posed that we should embrace ornamentation and that great design comes from complexity and contradiction. A famous quote was "Less is a bore," which contradicts Modernism's philosophy that "Less is more." His second Book "Learning from Las Vegas- the forgotten symbolism of architectural form," which studies the urban architectural form of Las Vegas, the results were used to show the need for ornamentation in urban architectural design. It posed that ornamentation provided meaning in urban architecture. Robert Venturi's style considered the historical precedent and the nuisances of modern living.
Robert Venturi teamed up with another architect Denise Scott-Brown and developed the curious distinction between a "Duck" and a "Decorated Shed." He discuses this phenomenon in his essay "99% Invisible: Lessons from Sin City: The Architecture of  Ducks vs Decorated Sheds." This explores the idea of how Vegas has learned how to attract people with the symbolic ornamentation of their architecture.

    Robert Venturi designed this house for his mother after his father died. She only 
requested that the house be unpretentious and had no garage as she was no
longer driving.  


Some examples of today's architecture that have been inspired
 by the Duck vs Decorated Shed mentality.

Peer Reviews: 

Savannah Phillips:I really enjoyed how you included several architects in your blog

                                instead of focusing on one. It was a unique approach to the blog.

Alex Danner: It was great learning about the Memphis Movement from your blog 

                        post. I also loved how you included the fashion and different elements.

The link below goes into more depth on the Vanna Venturi House:

https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/12/postmodernism-architecture-vanna-venturi-house

-philadelphia-robert-venturi-denise-scott-brown/

Modernism in America Part II

  

Mid-Century Modern

Charles and Ray Eames  (1907- 1978 & 1912 - 1988)

Charles Eames went to Washington University for architecture and became and architect and an industrial designer. He studied and taught at Cranbrook Academy. 

Ray Eames got her education from Bennett Woman's College and Cranbrook Academy. She became an artist and a film maker. The couple had a big influence on the lifestyle of the average American family, they considered the ergonomic factors in furniture design, and the designed furniture for Herman Miller. They used molded plywood and plastics for chairs, molded fiberglass and aluminum framed furniture.

Charles and Ray Eames Quotes:

Charles: "Anything I can do, Ray can do better."

Ray: "I never gave up painting, I just changed my palette."

Click the link below to see even more information on Charles and Ray Eames:

http://www.dwr.com/designer-charles-and-ray-eames?lang=en_US

           

                                         Eames Chairs

Eames Lounge Chair

             

Eames Lounge Chair used in a Modern Setting

Eames Chairs used in a Modern Setting

Peer Reviews:

 Kiera Ferguson: I love your modern images and your take on the Modernism in America. 

Marisa Smith: I enjoyed your take on the Eames couple as I did the same people. It was interesting to see the difference in what we found on them. 

                       

Modernism in America - part 1

World War ll Was devastating for many and had a large influence on Europe. During the turmoil the Bauhaus was closed and many designers fled Europe to find refuge in the United States.Before the war Modernism was theoretical and idealistic, however once the war was over Modernism had a shift and became practical and applied.
William Lescaze (1896-1969) graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, he studied under the Swiss architect Karl Moser in Geneva, and he brought his European influenced Modernism ideas to America in 1920. He was known for designing commercial buildings and he opened his own practice in New York in 1923. Arguably most impressive he created the first American Skyscraper.

Today America is filled with many scrapers, of course not all of them are intentionally copying someone like William Lescaze, however many buildings may be indirectly inspired by this building as it was the first industrial style skyscraper in America. To the right are some example of skyscrapers that could be drastically different without the influence of William Lescaze and other innovators like him.

William Lescaze was a serious modernist, he believed that the clean lines and simple geometric forms of the International Style could make for a better life. ''The visible results,'' he wrote of modern architecture, ''are beautiful, economical and efficient. The unseen results are greater happiness, better health for a greater number of human beings, the satisfaction of being honest and of being in tune with the life of our own times.''
For more info on Lescaze check out the link below:
https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display.cfm/19021

The first industrial style skyscraper in America-
by William Lescaze.

William Lescaze's Sketch of  the Oak Lane Country Day
School that he designed in 1929.

William Lescaze's Oak Lane Country Day School, 1929.



Peer reviews:
Alexandria Ferrara: I enjoyed how you used your own
experience as a part of the Blog this week. I found it very
 unique and interesting. I also enjoyed the extra information.
Emma Michelfelder: I loved reading about Frank Lloyd
Wright from your perspective, and also the imagery you
provided to back up what you were saying about his designs.