Mid-Century modern

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Mid-Century modern is a design term applied most frequently to residential (and some commercial) architecture, interior design and furniture. Related to the Space Age, the International style and Googie, mid-century modern translated the ideology of Modernism into a sleek, cool, yet accessible lifestyle. Mid-century modernism was more organic in form and less serious than the International Style. Scandinavian and Finnish designers and architects were very prolific at this time, with a style characterized by simplicity, democratic design and organic shapes. They had an influence on Mid-century modernism in the rest of the world, including the US. Mid-century modernism has become popular in recent times, and has influenced contemporary modern design profoundly.

Well-known designers of the mid-century modern era include: Alvar Aalto, Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames, Craig Ellwood, Max Gottschalk, Edith Heath, Arne Jacobsen, Louis Kahn, Paul McCobb, George Nelson, Richard Neutra, Isamu Noguchi, Harvey Probber, Jens Risom, Eero Saarinen, Rudolf Schindler, Raphael Soriano, Hans Wegner, Russel Wright, and Eva Zeisel.

Contents 1 Mid-Century modern (1940-1970) 2 See also 3 External Links

[edit] Mid-Century modern (1940-1970)

"Interior design for the space age"

If one is unfamiliar with Mid Century Modern style, try to imagine the sleek futuristic interior of the 21st century (atomic age) home of George and Jane Jetson. Or vision the ultra cool, high end sophisticated 'rat pack', standing in front of the sweeping entranceway of Las Vegas' Sands Hotel (designed by architect/designer Wayne McAllister) of 1952.

In the pre-World War II period, modern architects designed revolutionary buildings which boldly rejected applied ornamentation and took their inspiration from the organic world and the machine age. Los Angeles became a magnet for many of these visionaries.

Following World War II, new technologies enabled architects to experiment with a palette previously unavailable to them. Modern buildings built between 1940 and 1970 tend to have clean, simple lines, a minimum of decoration, lots of glass, a flat or angled roofline and use materials such as Formica, aluminum, stainless steel, flagstone, or terrazzo. Signage often used neon and plastics with unique typefaces. Resins, plastics, metal alloys, laminates, and other new materials merged for the first time, creating some of the most astonishing and innovative design and architecture ever.

Parking their finned automobiles in sleek carports, modern postwar families moved into tract homes and high art model homes with indoor/outdoor living spaces, open floor plans, exotic landscaping, and abstract furnishings. Wartime sacrifices were blown away, along with most walls, revealing a brighter, fresher, better world of tomorrow.

The cool futuristic sparse interiors of these space age homes are the very essence of Mid Century Modern.

[edit] See also

• Case Study Houses
• Modern architecture

[edit] External Links

• Lotta Living Online Community for fans of Mid-Century Modern Design
• Atomic Age Alliance Volunteer group dedicated to celebrating Mid Century Modern architecture
• GOMOD.COM Portal for sites selling Mid-Century Modern Furniture
• gotmodern? Directory of Modernism retailers (Mid-Century, 60's and 70's, Contemporary )Modernism
• Eames Wire Chairs
• Mid-century Modern Textile Design
• MODish.net Resource for Mid-Century Modern Tableware and Ceramics
• 20th Century Modern Web Ring Web Ring dedicated to 20th Century Modern Furnishings and Tableware
• Mid Century StyleLinks to a blogring for midcentury homes, flickr group and more.
• Wildwood Doo WopA catalog of mid-century modern architecture in The Wildwoods