INT 232-1: History of Interior, Art, and Furnishing II

  INT 232 Ruth Hernandez Other Modernism The topic for this week discusses the various alternatives to Modernism that were developed either concurrently with or in reaction to the purist ideology of Heroic Modernism. While the early Modernists emphasized function, minimalism, and industrial materials in the design of spaces, Other Modernism sought to add diversity and individuality to the spaces.   The modernists were able to break away from the purist ideology of Modernism by adding warmth and regionalism to the spaces without compromising the simplicity and functionality. This proves that modernism is not just one style. There was more emphasis on comfort and how people used spaces, rather than just functionality. Spaces were more comfortable and homelike. Unlike in Modernism, where there was widespread use of steel and glass, there was a return to other materials that could provide warmth. Interior spaces had a combination of textures, colors, and a blend of modern and natu...

  INT 232 Ruth Hernandez Art Deco  The topic for the week is Art Deco, which is a style of design that originated in the 1920s and 1930s and is characterized by its boldness, glamour, and modernity. Art Deco is considered to be the result of the post-Art Nouveau and pre-Modernism movements, which did not discard the idea of luxury or innovation as Art Nouveau did.  Art Deco is the result of the optimism of the machine age, the advances made in technology, the excitement of speed, travel, and the exotic. Art Deco interiors featured modern elements with luxurious treatments and bold statements. It is considered to be a modern and luxurious style, reminiscent of theaters, hotels, skyscrapers, and luxury homes. Art Deco is famous for the use of geometric forms like zigzags, chevron patterns, sunbursts, and stepped forms. This style is used in architecture, furniture, floors, and other elements.  Art Deco designers used luxurious materials like lacquer, chrome, glass, mar...

   INT 232 Ruth Hernandez Heroic M odernism  The topic for the week centered on the subject of Heroic Modernism, a prominent style of the early 20th century. This style affected architecture, interior spaces, and furniture. Heroic Modernism emerged between the 1920s and 1940s. This style represented a bold departure from the styles of the past. Architects and interior designers of the period believed that architecture and interior spaces ought to mirror the modern world of industry, rather than the past.  Heroic Modernism introduced the concepts of functionality, simplicity, and new technologies. Architects and interior designers started to experiment with new materials, including steel, glass, and concrete. This gave way to new forms of buildings and the use of open spaces. There was a desire to create rational and universal designs to serve the needs of the modern world. Another of the main concepts of Heroic Modernism was the belief that the basis of good design s...

  INT 232 Ruth Hernandez Protomodernism  This week in class, we learned about Protomodernism, a design style that acted as a bridge between the very decorative design styles of the past (Art Nouveau and Victorian) and the simplicity that is associated with Modern design. Protomodernism emerged in the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries and marked the beginning of the end for excessive ornamentation and unnecessary decoration in design. Designers during this time were beginning to concentrate more on the functionality, structure, and geometry of design rather than relying on decoration to cover their designs. Unlike the ornate curves and flowing lines emphasized by the Art Nouveau style, the Protomodernist style minimized ornamentation. Designers started stripping the designs of any unnecessary ornamentation and focused on clean and structured forms. Function was a significant aspect. Furniture and interior designs were created with functionality at the core, wi...