International style

The International Style/ Comparing local designers with International pioneers.

This style emerged in the 1920-30’s and is known for its impact in architectural design to date, the international style is also known as the Modern movement.

Characteristics of the International style:

Straight lines creating and illusion of motion

Firm plane surfaces with light tones

Making the most of interior spaces (open plans)

Weightless look in design

Beam like structures

Flat roof garages

https://www.google.com.mt/search?q=International+Style&rlz=1C1CHBD_enMT705MT705&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwosyHy7XTAhXLLFAKHYHJB1kQ_AUIBigB&biw=1536&bih=798#imgrc=1WL6XvEJYmC9VM:

At the time one could find Glass, Steel framed windows and reinforced concrete as the prominent materials at the time. This style brought a lot of advantages and as any other thing existing it has its negative side as well, this era took a lot of its importance towards Architectural design.  In this time you could find a type of design with the principles that it’s looking towards the future in the industry, at the time there was a lot of hunger in terms of changing the ‘usual’ style of design so artists and designers opted for this need and started creating design with the thought of volume not mass. This movement also shows the importance of basing the design on balance not symmetry and one could get the feeling that this movement had a lot of strict rules one needs to apply.

The International style showed contrast in design comparing with previous movements, designers such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Roche, Walter Gropius, Otto Haesler, Marcel Breuer and Ray and Charles Eames are all well-known names that made a huge impact. Although people wanted a changed and difference in design, it was hard for certain civilians to accept the style that by some was called ‘A boring style’ and the idea of minimal decorative spaces or non- decorative spaces at all was frustrating to accept. It was an industrializing period were every space is vital for designers to create a living space, this made anti-civil areas became populated.

New materials at the time:

Tubular steel

Cane

Cantilevering

Bent wood

Glass

Plane surfaces to make things easier for production and reduction of decoration

Comparing and contrasting local designers with International pioneers:

Joseph M Spiteri (Manikata Church), Salvu Ellul (Villino Ellul late 1920’s), Gustavo Vincenti , Silvio Mercieca , Alberto Laferla are all local designers which they contributed in the same International style and we can find Architectural elements in our island.

The Manikata church: Designed by the talented Richard England was built in the 1920, only a few people living in the very small village at the time. I find this design similar in certain characteristics and aesthetical elements from the same well known international style, Guggenheim of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Guggenheim of Frank Lloyd Wright.

With the repetitive natural smooth curves that are illustration a sense of motion, with the use of light tones and flat roofing makes this a similar design or at least a resemblance in both The International style and the Guggenheim itself.

Ex White Rocks complex

Instantly one can resemble this design to what Le Corbusier was all about, in fact I find this representation very similar in terms of design and aesthetics of the famous Le Corbusier cite radiuses Marseille.

With strong straight horizontal lines, weightless look in design and making use of the spaces given is a similar concept and reflects some close relation. The use of horizontal beam like structures, Firm plane surfaces with light tones, use of concrete and glass framed windows are all elements that depict The International style.

Bibliography:

 https://prezi.com/dop4cggnnvg5/international-style-homes/
prezi.com. 2017. INTERNATIONAL STYLE HOMES by Mike Johnosn on Prezi. [ONLINE] Available at: https://prezi.com/dop4cggnnvg5/international-style-homes/. [Accessed 26 April 2017].

http://www.buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/i/intrntl.html
International Style. 2017. International Style. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/i/intrntl.html. [Accessed 26 April 2017].

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110829/letters/Preservation-of-modernist-architecture.382288
Allied Newspapers Ltd. 2017. Times of Malta ‒ Preservation of modernist architecture. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110829/letters/Preservation-of-modernist-architecture.382288. [Accessed 26 April 2017]

https://www.britannica.com/art/International-Style-architecture
Encyclopedia Britannica. 2017. International Style | architecture | Britannica.com. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/International-Style-architecture. [Accessed 26 April 2017].

Streamlining/ Material/ Techniques

Streamlining:

Smooth, sleek and elegant are a few technical words that one could describe Streamlining, this era was all about designing forms that would tend to oppose motion. This helped increase velocity in all terms (water, air and earth) such as automobile’s, boats and the beginning of airplanes. This kind of design had been discovered back in the 1930’s, the true identity of this kind of style was the use of curving smooth forms in collaboration with horizontal lines.

Characteristics to identify Streamline design:

Use of chrome

Smooth edges

Corner windows

Smooth plaster finishing

Horizontal long lines

Teardrop shape

Futuristic design

Light tones of colour

https://www.google.com.mt/search?q=boats+1930&rlz=1C1CHBD_enMT705MT705&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt79vM3KPTAhUE5xoKHUmSBHUQ_AUICCgB&biw=1536&bih=798#tbm=isch&q=streamlining+design&imgrc=vK7lqt0a9GdxeM:

At this moment in time there was a need for product differentiation, aesthetical elements became important. We also need to keep in mind that at the beginning of this era a few years had passed from the First World War this could have influenced design and its need and purpose. Streamline clashes with the Art Deco movement, since art deco started in the 1920’s and streamline started just 10 years after, once could notice some resemblance in terms of Characteristics in design. Streamlining had a long period of time it was developed in the 1930’s and continued as far as the 1950’s. The profession of industrial design had emerged and used streamlining modern to serve as American corporate capitalism. The first streamlined design car was designed in 1934 under the Chrysler’s brand the Chrysler’s ‘Airflow’. Apart from the attractive and appealing style of design it was key in terms of design to produce a car that physically works well with the resistance of opposing air force.

Apart from focusing design only at automotive and aeroplanes, electrical components were progressive, For example the Electrolux Vacuum cleaner, this example shows all the characteristics within this movement, use of chrome, horizontal lines etc.

We rarely see that streamlining goes about their design in a form following function manner, it was a time of futuristic design and innovative curved shapes. Critics had their own opinion on this style, they describe it as the style that is nothing near fulfilling and not being able to design within the principle of the respective materials. By that being said this style still adopts well to the new materials in time, there were new plastics in the market such as vinyl, polystyrene, Plexiglas and Bakelite and new found materials. These materials could have been injected into mould that would easily create the identifying smooth and sleek look to the innovative design at the time.

Bakelite material

Kem Weber was a streamline designer that created furniture pieces, Weber a German designer that was well known for working with the Modernist designer Bruno Paul, Weber was sent to America to design in the Panama- Pacific exposition, This was around the time that the First world war broke and due to this unfortunate event it had forced Weber to stay put in America. This lead to great and innovative designs we know to date for example the Lounge chair that basically typifies the nature of Streamline design.

The primary idea behind this style and movement was to create aerodynamics to cars and planes, human creativity in design came beyond that and they quickly started creating decorative styles that would be identified as modernity and progressive design. This gave a huge impact on the industrial design industry due to its aesthetically beauty and want for differentiation. We are still involved in this style to date Streamlining was a substance that increased the rate of chemical production with the use of newly found materials at the time. By that being said this movement was an iconic one that had purely typified that humans and design itself will change and this brings creativity and could also serve for a specific function.

Bibliography:

https://architecture.knoji.com/streamlined-design-modernity-in-america/

Charles and Ray Eames

Charles and Ray were a couple both from the United States, Charles was quite an interesting individual with the use of experimenting new techniques and materials at that time such as fibreglass and plastic resin moulding. He usually worked alongside his creative wife which took into consideration the aspects and perspective of the artistic side of the design.

The key element to why this couple was so successful at the time was due to the ability of capturing the feeling of what citizens wanted in their homes at that time, They were not only able to design something they like and think it’s function able and making the surrounding space a whole unit, they had the ability to design for the use of the whole world. Charles was fascinated with the properties of plastic and different properties that from one plastic to another could vary.  This discovery lead to some iconic chairs to date, including DAR chair, RAR Rocker, DSR Dining Chair, DSW Dining, and more. Many of the mentioned designs were displayed on the design competition that was held in the 1940’s at The Museum of Modern Art’s. "The details are not the details. They make the design." (Quoted from Charles Eames) This description shows how important details were to him within creating the design. DAR Chair is a design that is easily recognizable and to date we still use this design in mass production, the materials used to create this design are either plastic that are created from moulding or fibreglass were the same process follows this makes it very easy for manufacturers to create or mas produce this design.

From a very thin plastic molded materials on top to a contrasting Stainless steel stilts (legs) that are inspired from the connection between materials of the Eiffel Tower, as one can notice at that time this was an innovative use of material and especially the technique behind it was captivating. DAR stands for Dining Arm chair with a rod base, this chair was designed for practical everyday living with the elements of a deep seat, curved arms and high back makes it an eye pleasing, comfortable and practical chair for everyday use.

Eames lounge chair

This design’s purpose was to create an aesthetically pleasing chair with certain comfort and created to suit a specific environment, such as living rooms lounge areas and high end offices. The designer was keen to specialize in another technique that was firstly discovered by the designer Marcel Breuer back in the 1930’s. Both Charles and Breuer are pioneers in the molding of plywood technique, in 1956 Charles and his wife published the eye catching lounge chair were one can notice the use of bended plywood, Charles taught of this new design as a modern version of a chair with a receptive look. Not only we still have the ability to see this design in museums of design or art but also we still offer them to our interiors to date, this shows that the Eames are designers and artists with the ideology of creating a long existing design with a functional purpose, the couple at that time was already universally dated to comfort us to date both in aesthetics and function.

Bibliography: http://www.voga.com/designers/charles-eames.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5YfHBRDzjNnioYq3_swBEiQArj4pdFP4HBoBX5ROJBh1LKanVftNwvhE0a2Vj-oqpncORV8aAtaw8P8HAQ

Charles Eames | Charles and Ray Eames Designers | VOGA. 2017. Charles Eames | Charles and Ray Eames Designers | VOGA. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.voga.com/designers/charles-eames.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5YfHBRDzjNnioYq3_swBEiQArj4pdFP4HBoBX5ROJBh1LKanVftNwvhE0a2Vj-oqpncORV8aAtaw8P8HAQ. [Accessed 03 April 2017].

http://www.voga.com/designers/charles-eames/eames-dar-chair-replica.html

DAR Armchair Replica | VOGA. 2017. DAR Armchair Replica | VOGA. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.voga.com/designers/charles-eames/eames-dar-chair-replica.html. [Accessed 03 April 2017].

http://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/lounge-seating/eames-lounge-chair-and-ottoman.html

Eames Lounge and Ottoman - Lounge Chair - Herman Miller. 2017. Eames Lounge and Ottoman - Lounge Chair - Herman Miller. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/lounge-seating/eames-lounge-chair-and-ottoman.html. [Accessed 03 April 2017].

Chrysler building

William Van Alen is an architect who changed the face of New York City in terms of design, Alen is the pioneer behind the famous Chrysler building. This building is well known for it’s massive height and design relating to the Art Deco era’ with the use of metal and steel construction.

The building is primarily designed to house office spaces but by time we see this design being used a lot in the movie industry such as Men in black and the great Gatsby.  This fascinating structure shows the true ability man made structures, this building is manually laid by hand ‘creating non-load bearing walls’. The use of white and grey brick work within in the facade shows the horizontal rows of the windows, the multiple gargoyles above are made of stainlesteel.

‘More noticeable connections between the exterior of the building and the Chrysler car are the sculptures modelled after radiator caps and ornaments of car wheels that decorate the lower setbacks.’

Standing sky high with almost 320 meters this building houses 77 floors, The artist Edward Trumbull is known for his artistic murals shown on the ceiling of this building. This structure is decorated with expensive and rich materials such as Red Moroccan marble walls, marble, steel and onyx, these materials depict the true value of this structure within the well-known city. This building also serves as a representation of the automotive industry and the Chrysler brand in particular, This is a reflection of the Chrysler automotive industry back in the 1920’s.

 The use of chrome, repeated and manipulated patterns, use of repetition, sharp angles and triangles are the true depiction of the Art Deco style. We need to also keep in mind that at this time it was also the age of seeing aeroplanes being born and the industry taking shape, this reflects also on the interior of this building were you could find iconic symbols such as compasses that tribute to airplane and the age of flight.

 Art Deco is all about the style of visual arts both in architecture and art, this building shows that exactly with the precision and use of Luxurious design both found in the exterior and interior parts. Art Deco was founded in the 1920’s but it was further developed in countries located in western Europe and USA at the late 20’s or even beginning of the 1930’s. 

This building cost around 20 million US dollars, at the same time in America around 15 million people were still unemployed, This building apart from it’s unarguably well designed and luxurious piece of architecture was key in America’s history, it was also a huge question on the amount of money that was spend this building bearing in mind the employment crisis at the time.

Bibliography:

http://www.archdaily.com/98222/ad-classics-chrysler-building-william-van-alen

https://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/new-york-historical-articles/chrysler-building/