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Week 10 | Modernism in America: Part I

After World War II, many European countries were in a standstill with new architecture, as they were trying to revive. Because American soil was left untouched by the war, Americans were able to come out in good shape, especially economically. Founders of the modernism movement fled to America, along with journals and books that helped spread. Modernism before the war was theoretical and idealistic, but after the war modernism was more practical and applied. There was experimentation with disposable furniture, and a need for interior design arose. Molded plywood and plastic started to emerge as common materials. Modernism saw the work of Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, and Frank Lloyd Wright. 
Frank Lloyd Wright
The Milliard House
The Schindler House
Rudolph Schindler
The Womb Chair
Eero Saarinen

Current Applications:
Eastbrook Elementary School 
Perkins + Will
Modernist Inspired Interior Today

One Step Further…
Eero Saarinen designed iconic furniture pieces, that today we still see old through Knoll Furniture company. He is most well-known for his Tulip Chair, Grasshopper Lounge Chair, and Womb Chair. Saarinen was a great friend of fellow designers Charles Eames and Florence Knoll. He collaborated on projects with both of them. With Eames, Saarinen designed the chairs for a MoMA-sponsored competition. Saarinen made a lot of mock up models of all of his designs so that he could perfect each one. He was a visionary and an exemplary designer. 
Eero Saarinen Designs

Comments

  1. Christyanne WheelerMarch 31, 2019 at 1:05 PM

    I like how you added the information about the Knoll chairs. I remember seeing some of these designs when we visited the merchandise mart and it is amazing how they are still being used today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SimiApril 7, 2019 at 6:00 PM

    Olivia, I found the furniture by Eero Saarinen really interesting. They were organic but not in an overwhelming way. They were simple, yet elegant. Creative and beautiful .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Professor VanderNoordaaApril 22, 2019 at 8:31 AM

    Olivia- excellent summary and images of this period. Eero Saarinen was a great designer to study in more depth. Besides his furniture collection he designed some significant buildings such as the Gateway Arch in St Louis, Washington Dulles International Airport and the TWA flight center.

    ReplyDelete

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