Protomodernism

 

Protomodernism was a movement that started just a little after the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movement. It began in 1897 and lasted through 1959. This movement was a significant experimentation of using new forms and ideas. The movement started in Munich Germany in 1892, and then made its way to Vienna Austria in 1898, then back to Berlin Germany in 1899. The Deutscher movement was founded by Hurman Muthesius. His purpose was to create “Design based on function thus came together with design based on the character of the material; and with respect for material went respect for the form of construction appropriate to that material. Function, material, and construction are the only imperatives that the modern artist-craftsman observes” This movement had influenced multiple designers such a Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and Mies Van der Rohe. This development was equivalent to the Arts are Crafts movement with a protest against artistic establishments. Unlike the Arts and Crafts movement, they embraced the use of machines. They set the stage of International Style and Art Deco Style.  

In Austria, The Vienna Secession movement was a time of worldwide advances in art, history psychology and philosophy. This movement was a collaboration between architects, designers, modernists, naturalists and manufactures who came together and created something bold and new. They had no ties to historical or academic styles of architecture or interior design. This style took an interest in culture and design, bringing style to basic household objects. The two main designers in this movement are Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos. They rejected Art Nouveau and went for a bold linear geometric form of the natural world. The range of materials have expanded during this time which included plywood, metals, bent beech wood and aluminum.

The ‘Postsparkasse” series was designed by Otto Wagner in 1906. This represents a clear expression of modern Viennese art. You can see the use of new materials through the bent beech wood, molded plywood and aluminum embellishment. The design is embracing and ergonomic. 

            

      

  This is the Café Museum Chair designed by Adolf Loos. This design incorporates bent beech wood, and finished with an unstained woven saddle set.

De Stijl was a movement that began in the Netherlands in 1917. It was a new style for the future and it was different from other countries. One of the most influential Dutch designers of this period was Gerrit Rietveld. He embraced mass production of furniture and inexpensive production methods. His materials included industrial products such as plywood, sheet metal and beach wood. The style was very simple and functional with furniture being assessable to all people. They used geometric shapes, primary colors, vertical and horizontal lines. They had flat surfaces with no applied texture. It brought the inside and outside world together. In these examples designed by Rietveld, you can definitely see the use of primary colors, geometric, no texture and horizontal and vertical lines. 

Frank Lloyd Wright was also an early contributor of American Modernism. His focus was on mostly residential homes where he designed every little detail from the exterior architecture to the interior design. His motifs were taken from nature and were repeated throughout the interior. Glass is a major design material he included in many of his works. This element allowed the natural world to come into the home. His structures were in harmony with humanity in nature. Lloyd is known for his "Prairie Style" architecture. His style included hipped roofs with a strong horizontal profile. An integration of house, material and landscape. 

These are a few of his designs which are very well known for his style. These designs really show the use of hipped roofs with a strong horizontal profile. He really integrates the nature into the home with the use of many glass windows throughout the space. I actually went on the Home and Studio Guided Interior Tour and Outdoor historic Neighborhood Audio Walking Tour of Lloyds Home located in Oak Park, IL. This is where the first uniquely American architecture the "Prairie Style" was created. It was an awesome experience and I definitely recommend going on a tour if your in the area.