Modernism in America

 Modernism was a period post World War ||. Many European countries were still trying to recover from the war. Modernism started in Germany and France, then rapidly spread to the rest of the world. The 1950s saw a continuation and exploration of modernist principles and forms, and technological innovations played an important role. Regions had to adapt to the technological effects of automobiles, airplane travel, television, radio, telephones, telegraphs, technicolor movies. These were experienced as devices whose use became increasingly widespread. All areas of the globe were modern and produced their unique form of modernism. It was a period of technological innovations. Technologies will continue to affect design’s creation and reception.  

World War || had also caused many Bauhaus designers to emigrate to Britain, to the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, and Japan. The revolutionary German art and design school laid the foundations of Modernism. Bauhaus came up with the idea that the blending of art, architecture and industry could be applied towards a social good. The ideas of the Bauhaus, and the designers who developed them, greatly influenced the beauty, functionality, and benefits of Modern design to the way we live and work. They push the limits of material, form and function in architecture, textile, and object design. A few of these influential designers included Frank Lloyd Wright, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, William Lescaze, Mies Van der Rohe and Philip Johnson. These individuals had created their own unique designs, but they all had a passion for form, airy interiors and minimal décor while emphasizing industrial materials. The Schindler House by Rudolph Schindler and the Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra’s interiors do a great job demonstrating these aspects. These buildings used steel, glass, stone, and concrete, while the interiors stayed simple and minimalistic. Each home was a unique exploration of space. They were prime examples of modern residential homes. These ideas continue to guide us today. 





One Step Further: 

A very influential designer of this period was Philip Johnson. He studied at Harvard Graduate School of Design and was founded the School of Architecture and Design at MOMA. In 1949, Johnson designed Glass House located in New Canaan, Connecticut. This design was influenced by the famous Van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. This building is an example of minimal structure, geometry, proportion, and the effects of transparency and reflection. It used industrial materials such as glass and steel. This was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture.




Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 4, 2021 at 5:25 PM

    Erica,
    Great job on this blog post. I loved your exploration on some of the background behind modernism and how in the US, we received many great designers and architects from Bauhaus that allowed for modernism to truly change the way most houses and furniture was constructed. Philip Johnson was a great choice for exploring a designer from this time period and I feel that most of Johnson's, Schindler's, and Wright's works could still be considered modern and pleasing architectural homes today. Overall, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AbigailApril 4, 2021 at 9:58 PM

    Erica,
    I like how thorough your post was on the history around modernism in America. You really made sure to explain where the style came from and included all the details of the many architects a part of the movement and their projects. It is really interesting to see how much the World Wars had an effect on design. They changed so much about the world, and it is cool to see that their influence extended as far as building design.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Professor VanderNoordaaApril 5, 2021 at 11:09 AM

    Erica- This was a great detailed summary of this period. Because of WWI and WW2 we benefited greatly by inheriting many great architects and designers from around the world. I appreciate your focus on Phillip Johnson and his Glass House".

    ReplyDelete

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