Blog Nine - Modernism in America

 Modernism in America

Although Modernism began in France and Germany, it quickly spread to the rest of the world, including America. The Modernist Movement occurred after World War II. The war had a devastating impact on Europe, and many designers fled Europe and came to the United States. Although Modernism existed before the war, it changed post-war. Before the war, Modernism was theoretical and idealistic. After the war, it became more practical and applied. 

Frank Lloyd Wright

One of the most well-known Modernist architects is Frank Lloyd Wright. His work was mainly during the 1920s and 1930s and didn’t fit into the current “International Style”. Frank Lloyd Wright has designed buildings all over the United States. Some of his designs in California include the Hollyhock House and La Miniatura. The Hollyhock House was built in 1921 and made mainly from concrete. It also contained elaborate terraces and gardens. La Miniatura was the most successful of his houses built during this period. It was made of concrete textile blocks. They created a decorative pattern on the exterior of the house. 

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most well-known works is Fallingwater. It was built in 1936 in Pennsylvania. It displays one of the most well-known qualities of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs: his desire to make the building fit into its surrounding landscape. He wanted his designs to fit seamlessly into their sites. Fallingwater was designed to appear like it was moving with the water it is set next to. It uses shifting planes to give the sense of movement, along with materials that don’t stick out compared to the surrounding area. The design today is worth around 10 million dollars. 

Although Frank Lloyd Wright mainly designed residential buildings, he is also well-known for a few commercial projects, including the S.C. Johnson Company office building. It was built in 1939 in Wisconsin. It is acknowledged for its unique design and incorporation of daylight. It is also known for its very successful furniture design, which reflects the design of the building. 

Richard Neutra

Richard Neutra designed from 1892-1970. He mainly designed residential homes. He was well-known for his geometric and airy design style. Some of his most well-known projects include the Kaufmann House and the Lovell House. The Kaufmann House was constructed in Palm Springs, California, in 1946. The Lovell House was constructed in Los Angeles, California, in 1927. The Lovell House was the first steel-framed house in America. It was made up of painted concrete slabs. The house was built into the surrounding landscape and was thought to have healing properties. 

Current Applications

One Step Further:

Eero Saarinen was born on August 20, 1910, in Finland. He was a Finnish-American architect and industrial designer. He is known for his innovative ideas not only in architecture but also in furniture design. Some of his most well-known designs are monuments and chairs. One of his most recognized designs is the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. It was constructed in 1963 with 60-foot foundations to ensure its durability against earthquakes or high winds. He is also well-known for his chair designs, including the womb chair and the tulip side chair. Eero Saarinen died September 1, 1961. He received many awards throughout his life for his designs.