1. The Emergence of Modernism
After 1910
Industrialization and technology
Invention of telephone, electric light,
travel by ship, rail, automobile and air
Structural Engg. using steel and RCC
First machine age
Factory production very normal
Modernism in painting, sculpture, architecture, music and literature
Frank Lloyd Wright ( )
Walter Gropius ( )
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( )
Le Corbusier ( )
Pioneers of modernism – 4 architects who were also active interior designers
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

2. The Emergence of Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright
Early work – strong influence of Louis Sullivan
Concept
Form follows function
Ornament was original and non historic
Frank Lloyd Wright – Early works
Winslow House – 1893
Used details that carry a hint of traditional architecture
Off the entrance hall of this house, the small loggia provides a fireplace flanked by built in seating
The rails on either side end with a pedestal topped by sculpture
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

3. The Emergence of Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright – Early works
Larkin Building, New York– 1904
Open general-office spaces around a central skylit courtyard
The majestic interior space with unique decorative detail only at the top level just below the sky lights
Innovative metal furniture and light fixtures were designed for this building
Unity was the major concept
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

4. The Emergence of Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright – Early works
Unity church, Illinois – 1906
Made of two linked blocks – church proper and parish house with entrances in the linking element
The interior with projecting balconies, linear decorative bands of wood along the white walls, hanging light fixtures, stained glass windows of geometric form
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

5. The Emergence of Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright – Early works
Coonley House – 1907
The ceiling pattern reflects the roof structure but is also strongly decorative
Squares are the theme for decorative tile and plaster pattern
Squares (Geometric design) are present in the stained glass and in the specially designed rug too
The furniture is of Wright’s design too
Sense of warmth and colour too
Very restricted colour
Natural colour of materials should not be altered- the warm tones of wood, brick and stone and the beiges of woven materials – basic colour
Leaded glass and an occasional small detail in red provides decorative accent
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

6. The Emergence of Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright – Early works
Robie House– 1910
The main living and dining is a continuous space, their windows forming an uninterrupted band along the main street
Stained glass in the windows, wooden bands across ceiling surfaces and built in wood work fittings give the interiors a unified character
The high backed dining chairs give a sense of enclosure for those sitting around the table
The table was unusually low and supported by corner posts that rise up above the table to become lighting fixtures.
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

7. The Emergence of Modernism
De Stijl Movement
Dutch artistic movement
Founded by Theo van Doesburg – writer, painter, designer and critic
With painters - Piet Mondrian
And architects Gerrit Rietveld
Concepts of pure abstraction in painting and sculpture on cubist art
Piet Mondrian’s abstract paintings – black bands arranged in rectilinear grids on a white background with some areas filled in with pure primary colours
Theo van Doesburg – Cinema Dance Hall
Geometric, abstract, diagonally placed three dimensional forms, tubular stair and balcony railings, using modern materials –concrete, steel, aluminium and glass (no wood) with black, white and primary colours
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

8. The Emergence of Modernism
De Stijl Movement
Gerrett Rietveld – Red Blue Chair
Two sheets of plywood serve as seat and back in this chair, held in relationship by the structural cage of wooden strips. Connection between the members are made by hidden metal pins so that the elements are clearly articulated. The three primary colours – blue, red and yellow are used with black for the structure and arms. The chair is surprisingly comfortable.
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

9. The Emergence of Modernism
De Stijl Movement
Gerrett Rietveld – Schroder House
The upper level of the house was fitted with sliding panels to screen off or open up the space
The typical De Stijl colour scheme – with white, black, red and blue enlivens the rectilinear geometry of the space
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

10. The Emergence of Modernism
Pioneers of the International Style
Walter Gropius
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Marcel Breuer
Charles Jeanneret – Le Corbusier
Walter Gropius - Bauhaus
A new educational program that established a relation between the modernism of fine arts and other design and craft fields – architecture, town planning, advertising, exhibition design, stage design, photography and film and the design of objects – industrial design
Bauhaus - Interiors
Simple and functional
Rectilinear geometric form
Furniture and light fixtures were designed
White, grey and primary colour accents
Gropius own office was designed using abstract geometric forms. The rug, tapestry, furniture and lighting fixture designed by Gropius
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

11. The Emergence of Modernism
Pioneers of the International Style
Marcel Breuer- Bauhaus
Two chairs – Cesca Chair and Wassily chair
Cesca chair (1928) – metal tubular framed chair
Made in both arm and armless versions
Had seats and backs of cane
Also had cushioned versions
Wassily chair (1925)– chrome plated steel tubing to support seat, arms and back of stretched material, either canvas or leather.
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

12. The Emergence of Modernism
Pioneers of the International Style
Mies van der Rohe
Development of furniture designs
Simplicity in interiors where colours and textures of the materials were the only ornamentation
Less is more – Minimalism
German Pavilion, Barcelona
Open space of the area had no identified rooms but screen walls of glass and marble.
Floor to ceiling glass supported by slim, steel columns
The area was finished with luxurious materials – including marble, travertine, onyx, green glass and polished steel
Barcelona chair
Simple steel frame supports leather straps to support seat and back cushions covered with tufted leather
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

13. The Emergence of Modernism
Le Corbusier
Use of proportions in geometry
Interiors – colourless and cold
Black, white and chrome
Sometimes colourful interior as a painter –
yellow, blue, pale green or a dark maroon
Church of Notre Dame du Haut – 1968
The emotional character of the dark interior is intensified by the effects of light coming from small windows, which are filled with colourful stained glass
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

14. The Emergence of Modernism
Le Corbusier
1929
Modernist interpretation of the traditional chaise has an upper structure that slides on the base to permit the seating surface suited to the comfort of the user
The chrome plated steel cage holds five leather cushions which are separate removable units
Big comfort group
Small comfort group
Concept of “House as a machine for living”
Modular storage box units – used as room dividers
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

15. The Emergence of Modernism
Alvar Aalto
Finnish architect
Turun Sanomat Building (1929)
The tapering concrete columns generate rhythmic forms that makes it a space o f great beauty
City Library (1935)
The undulating ceiling is covered with strips of natural coloured wood together with its large windows opening into the landscape give it a sense of calm and comfort
He designed the various chairs notably the three legged stacking stools
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian