Week 11 - Modernism in America (cont.)

This section of Modernism in America focuses primarily on the development of furniture design and furniture manufacturers. The development was very experimental due to the advances in manufacturing processes and the development of different technologies such as the television. Since America was the leader of design internationally at this point, it only makes sense for a majority of this experimentation to take place here.

Furniture designers really took advantage of this experimentation period and they played around with materials such as plywood, plastic, resin, metal, laminate, and fiberglass. These different materials were married with the idea of ergonomics, because human comfort and movement were finally being taken into consideration. This interest in human behavior and comfort was also taken into account when multipurpose and interchangeable furniture pieces were introduced to the furniture world. The development of technology also lent itself to the development of furniture design. With television becoming a primary entertainment system, furniture was starting to become focused around it. This focus encouraged furniture designers to come up with different pieces, such as the coffee table or lounge seating.

One other consideration of this design movement was the connection of the interior with the outdoors. In order to further this design concept, the main color scheme of Mid-Century Modernism included earth tones such as olive, burnt umber, pumpkin, and mustard. Architecture of this time period also reflected this desire of marrying indoor spaces to the outside, so glass walls, clean lines, and open floor plans were primary design factors in Modernist housing.

Modernism gave way to the rise of many great designers and manufacturers, such as Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, as well as Knoll and Herman Miller. These designers and companies greatly benefited both residential and commercial spaces and are still wildly popular to this day.

Design Examples

 Eames House - Charles and Ray Eames

 Eichler Home - Joseph Richler

TWA Flight Center - Eero Saarinen

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One Step Further

Eero Saarinen was a very successful Finnish architect and industrial designer known for his contributions in the Modernist design movement. He was born to an architect, Eliel Saarinen, who was the dean of the Cranbrook Academy of Art. It was there where Eero took courses in sculpture and furniture design and became friends with Charles Eames, Ray Eames, and Florence Knoll. Eero then took a two year break from his schooling, touring Europe, North Africa, as well as Finland, then returned to Cranbrook to work for his father.

Eero first received recognition with the Tulip Chair, a design collaboration with Charles Eames. The Knoll furniture company loved the chair and began production of it. Not only was Eero connected with Knoll because of family friendships, but he was now connected because of his furniture designs. Eero went on to design the Grasshopper lounge chair and ottoman, the Womb chair and ottoman, the Womb settee side and arm chairs, as well as the Tulip group.

Eero Saarinen was a furniture designer as well as a successful architect. His most famous projects include the design of General Motors Technical Center, John Deere headquarters, as well as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which includes the well-known St. Louis Archway. He was so successful he became known as one of the masters of American 20^th-century architecture.