Mid-century Modernism

 Mid century modernism was a style that arrived in the 50s & 60s, design characteristics from the earlier modern years were still seen but, had a different twist. Clean lines were still a very strong staple of this era of design, indoor to outdoor living was seen in many homes especially on the West Coast. Glass walls and open floor plans also started to become increasingly popular during this time. The color trends at this time leaned more towards warm color and earthy tones. There were some bolder colors as well that were seen but, did not last as long. 



One Step Further: 

I chose to look at Eero Saarinen because he had some valued working with the taste and needs of client as opposed to sticking to one wheelhouse of style. This is something I admire seeing within the architecture and design world. He did however, have some characteristics to his design as he often used curved lines in his designs often times with glass as the main material. He felt that "to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence" was a crucial part of architecture and design. This is something seen through his furniture works, as they were practical and comfortable. His often used primary colors in his furniture designs and used materials like fiber glass and aluminum. His swivel tulip chair is my personal favorite of his works, this is a furniture piece I would see in tv and movies and felt that is was so unique and fun. He is also known for the womb chair which was designed with comfort in mind as it has a large seat and almost wraps you up in a cocoon. 




Modern Applications

Application #1: 

Mid century modern has become a style that is recreated in modern times and is one of the most popular styles around. This home features clean lines, simple color choices, and breeze blocks which were often seen during the rise of mid century modernism. 



Applications #2: 

This image below shows that the earthy color palettes are still used for modern mid century modern pieces, the curves in the sides o this chair are similar to the sides of the womb chair. 



Comments

  1. Dezaray MillerApril 9, 2022 at 3:56 PM

    Meaghan,

    I really like your discussion pose this week. When you went in depth about Eero I think you did a great job. Including the quote was really helpful to better understand what he stood for in his designs. I liked you examples as well. Your last one was really neat with the panels wall and green color as well as the combination of modern leather furniture.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaApril 15, 2022 at 12:18 PM

    Meaghan,
    Excellent post on Mid Century Modernism. You did a great job of explaining the essence of this style, such as the clean lines, earthy color palette and indoor/outdoor continuity. Eero Saarinen was a great designer to give detailed attention to. I really admire him for considering the ergonomics and comfort of his furniture. Total Points: 50/50.

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