Blog 12:

Post-Modernism

Post-Modernism began in the 20th century and it is still very present today. This movement was characterised by the broad thought the designers had in subject to realism and the gentile  suspicion of reason. This movement emerged from the Pop and Anti-design movement s and argued a lot of things such as the modern architecture lacked functionality and was becoming meaningless. No complexity was seen because the modern movement denied ornament and any type of symbolism. 

In the beginning of this design movement introduced Michael Graves which made designs that had decorative motifs which frequently referred to the post decorative styles and he was in fact very ironic in this content. He was a firm believer of post modernist design and made use of decorative elements in his buildings and products to indicate to people that the mainstream era was soon over and not everything that was simple looked great. Graves works consisted of vibrant colours, abstractions of different elements which had been on classical architecture.

Later the Memphis group which was made from Italian architects produced monumental Neo Pop designs. This allowed complete international sensation towards design. The Memphis group was very much influenced by the eclectic range of sources which replicated the good taste of design. They challenged the idea of having designs which incorporated conventional shapes, colours, forms and textures.  

As seen in the Anti-design movement, Ettore Sottsass who was also and Italian Architect called the Memphis group as the New International Style. The Memphis group wanted to renovate the 'new' products which lacked design, decoration and minimalism and give designs life and meaning. 

Ettore Sottsass - Carlton 

An iconic design which was done by the talented Martine Bedin, was the Super Lamp which consisted of all the elements that the Memphis group wanted to emphasise on. This lamp is made out of steel which is painted and moulded with the lighting components and it had no protection to cover the light fittings or the heat that light emits. It was all purposely done to manifest the new group and the new era taking over. Her contributions in the Memphis group  were mainly on lighting and graphics design. 

Martine Bedin - Super Lamp

Reference: 

Archdaily.com. (2016). Michael Graves | Tag | ArchDaily. [online] Available at: http://www.archdaily.com/tag/michael-graves [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2014). postmodernism | philosophy. [online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/topic/postmodernism-philosophy [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Design-technology.org. (2016). The Memphis Group. [online] Available at: http://www.design-technology.org/memphis1.htm [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Collections.vam.ac.uk. (2016). Super Lamp | Martine Bedin | V&A Search the Collections. [online] Available at: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1177310/super-lamp-lamp-martine-bedin/ [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Blog 11:

Anti-Design Movement

This movement started off in Italy as a rebellion towards the lack of social reliance of design only for the sake of profit and greed. This caused the movement to act on such occurrences and from the 1966 this group started as an art movement which had a different direction. As for architecture this was known as the Radical Movement. 

Anti-design Movement created such objects which had a unique approach and being away from embracing styles, mass production which was resulting as a complete destruction to the traditional media, consumerism, sales and more greed. This movement agreed on having objects which are functional and not necessary having a good aesthetic. Objects here had to be used temporary and then thrown away to buy new and fresh designs and objects. This objective meant consumerism and more profit but the real message was this: Anti-design people wanted to make the client, people that are going to buy the object, think about on what they are going to buy, even if will soon be thrown away.

Some comparisons between the Modernist Design and the Anti-Design movement. Modernist movement incorporated a lot of blacks, whites and greys in their colour palette whereas Anti-Design involved more bright and rich colours, more vibrant and added decorative elements. Modernist chose the right material for its durability while the Anti-designers had little care on materials and focused more on the function.  The Anti-designers wanted to create irony in their products such as distortion of scales, and unusual forms. While the modernist movement kept with the phrase: 'Form Follows Function'.

Ettore Sottsass is a key model in this particular movement and made a lot of products within the same group. He is an eclectic designer and industrial designer. Some of which are the series of cupboards which where all made out of plywood and made a complete paradoxical image. They all looked strange, were obelisks and covered with deliberately designs which also lead to the beginning of the new era: Post Modernism. The idea of having functional objects is not enough but it has to be sensual and exciting. 

 

Cupboards (1966) - Ettore Sottsass

Piero Gilardi had also great influence from this movement and one of his designs was a chair which looks exactly like large rocks. These chairs are made out of polyurethane and were manufactured by Gufram. This is the greatest example one could have of form misguided its function. A rock is normally uncomfortable, hard and durable while a chair is supposedly be the other way round, being comfortable and soft. An example where the form and the function are illegible. 

Sassi (1967) The Rocks - Piero Gilardi

Reference: 

Design Museum. (2015). Ettore Sottsass. [online] Available at: http://designmuseum.org/designers/ettore-sottsass [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Arthistoryarchive.com. (2016). Anti-Design - The Art History Archive. [online] Available at: http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/antidesign/ [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Oxfordreference.com. (2016). Anti-Design - Oxford Reference. [online] Available at: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095416737 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Mesi, R. (2016). Ettore Sottsass | Austria's Anti-Design Hero. [online] The Culture Trip. Available at: http://theculturetrip.com/europe/austria/articles/ettore-sottsass-austria-s-anti-design-hero/ [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Interview:

Essay

In this era a lot of styles are being interpreted together and there is no such thing as a new movement apart from being modern. I choose a particular architect Mario Scicluna, which he is currently contributing his work with the Ballut Blocks Services Limited here in Malta. His main job is site manager on constructing projects, and he is also a free lance architect. 

As some of his main inspirations that he mentioned was the Santiago Calatrava which is situated in Valencia. This is basically a cultural complex and consists of several departments in it which are related to science and art. The architect is in no doubt Santiago Calatrava Valls who was born in 28th July 1951. He is a Spanish futuristic architect, hence this marvellous architectural scene, but he is also a structural engineer, sculpture and painter.  This is also considered as 'The City of Arts and Sciences', mainly because it has a domed cinema, a landscaping view port, car park, a science museum, and aquarium and a multifunctional space which is called the 'Agora'. All of these departments and sections are connected together by a public plaza centre and bridges which are situated around the central pool. Alongside this huge architectural project there is a centre piece which is made out of white concrete opera house and has excessive feather like structures in the roof. Sides are done in curved ceramic mosaic tiles. 

The city of Arts and Sciences - Santiago Calatrava Valls

What strikes the architect the most is the connection he finds between the Snatiago Calatrava building and the Malta National Aquarium which is situated in Qawra, Fra Ben area. The two architectural buildings have a modern approach and incorporate curves and structures web-like which combine everything together. One of the architects responsible for the National Aquarium in Malta is Kenneth Borg. This modern architecture in malta  was build in the 2012 and now has fourth-one tanks which have a variety of reptiles, insects and amphibians. the National aquarium is now a days an iconic building in Malta in the form of a giant shell, which forms a star fish. 

Malta National Aquarium  - Qawra

Along with these architectural references, Mr. Scicluna's characteristics often involve vertical lines in which most buildings around are considered as low accentuates heights. His current style, and mainly the two which interest him the most are Art Deco and Post Modernism. Art Deco makes use of vertical lines, maybe some sculpted decoration columns and curves. While post-modernism is a style which went from being very functional and all of its formalized shapes are transformed into diverse aesthetics. The two styles incorporate very bold characteristics such as the curvatures and the some decorative style, but Post Modernism has more sleek and can be more natural and lacks some decorative elements. If the two styles are joined together it would give a very interesting outcome. 

Reference: 

Dezeen. (2015). Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences is "amazing" says Clooney. [online] Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2015/05/21/calatrava-city-of-arts-sciences-valencia-tomorrowland-george-clooney-brad-bird/ [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

MaltaToday.com.mt. (2011). Ambitious completion deadline for National Aquarium. [online] Available at: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/13925/ambitious-completion-deadline-for-national-aquarium#.V08djJF97IU [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Aquarium.com.mt. (2016). Malta National Aquarium. [online] Available at: http://www.aquarium.com.mt/about-us/ [Accessed 1 Jun. 2016].

Infographic:

Pop Design

Pop design had its influence form Pop art which started in Britain in the early 1950s, later in the late 1950s Pop Design evolved in the United States. This for of style came after the word war in which they wanted to eliminate the dullness of the society and make it brighter with the art and products produced. The characteristics of Pop Design are having geometric shapes especially in architecture the cubic is the most common shape used. The very strong expression is unique and with the help of bold lines it makes it more stand out. Along with bold lines there are the bright simple colours which makes it more targeted to youth and the younger generation. Pop design includes also comic pictures generated into the products or furniture and this came very controversial. 

Pop art along with the products which where influenced from the same art.

Peter and Alision Smithson are two important architects of that time which are also pioneers of the modern Pop Design. Three of their big projects done together are the: House of the Future, Economist Building and Robin Hood Gardens. They where all built to infuse progressive and more meritocratic post war society. 

The house of the future is a great example of cartoonist design and modern design. Cartoonist in the sense of having superficial effects which at that time was a great exploration and made it seem as if it was impossible to have. This kind of house is aimed and young couples who have no children because of its high technology and because of the amendments that can be done throughout the house.

This house was basically a project of conventional suburban home which would be visiable in the next 25 years. This was a new generation house and included mobility in its use, starting from the walls to the furniture that can be used as dual functions. The two architects considered moldability to imitate a fantasy house and hence for the curves on the walls and the materials used throughout the whole house.  

George Nelson

For product design, George Nelson was very influential in the United States design after the 1945. Although he was an architect he was more into sociological and artistic themes. The 'Marshmallow sofa' designed in the 1956 was the earliest Pop Art furniture Design. The sofa was made from varnished steel tubing, aluminium and the vinyl coloured cushions. 

George wanted to transform the traditional sofa into a three dimensional shape which served its purpose and made the customer feel as if the sofa is no ordinary sofa. The seat and the back of this marshmallow sofa are supported by a steel construction made to hold the cushions into place.

This kind of sofa need high production labour and that meant large costings. So it was stopped from manufacturing from the 1988 till 1994. Until 2003, they had started again the manufacturing of this colourful sofa which better technology at a reasonable price. As compared to the 'House of the Future' both the spatial and the product design incorporate high technology and markets the younger generation for its vibrant colours and the fresh approach into their products.

Marshmellow sofa - George Nelson

And this is my final infographic design:

Reference:

Design.designmuseum.org. (2016). Alison + Peter Smithson / - Design/Designer Information. [online] Available at: http://design.designmuseum.org/design/alison-peter-smithson.html [Accessed 25 May 2016].

En.wikiarquitectura.com. (2016). House of the Future - Architecture of the World - WikiArquitectura. [online] Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/House_of_the_Future [Accessed 25 May 2016].

Vitra Design Museum. (2016). Marshmallow - George Nelson. [online] Available at: http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/100-masterpieces/detailseiten/marshmallow-george-nelson.html [Accessed 25 May 2016].

Blog 10:

Streamlining 

Streamlining began in the 20th century, date exactly was the 1930 and lasted till the 1950. This style was very popular in America and its main characteristics where the tear-drop shape, smooth finishings and the curvatures. The streamlining style firstly merged into transportation such as: shipping, aircraft and auto mobiles mainly for speed. This reduced the amount of air friction and so the machine would move faster. 

Later on, in the 1930s this style had changed, rather than making a product streamlined for its function, making it for it appearance. This helped the manufacturing of the products and good to regain their strength and eventually their profit would increase. 

While in America, the Wall Street Crash which happened to be in 1929, made manufacturers renewed their products by hiring a designer in which he would streamline the object and sell it as new, instead of having to reinvent a new product.

Materials such as clay where used  to produce models for these sleek designs, this is because that it was easy to manage curvatures in products. Some of the manufacturing good included the refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, radios, cameras and telephones. Along with this materials, backalite was highly recommended this is because its a thermoset and highly protective, which was also suitable for curvature forms. 

Surprisingly enough, Streamlining grew out of Art Deco, but with less decorative ornaments,  so it was simplified and included dynamism which was great for commercial products and furniture. It was also considered as: 'Art Deco on the move'. 

The Jumo Brevte company which is located in Paris had it contributions in designing the streamlined post-war product which is the Jumo Bakelite lamp. This was designed by Gustave Miklos and was originally available in three different colors which are the black, white and maroon. Along with the Bakelite material, the copper and chrome played an important role in the swivel joints of the lamp. The swivel joint where there so that it could adjust easily by the user. This interesting lamp had a Bakelite button in which when it opens the light would turn on automatically. This is a great example of streamlined products in which most of the characteristics are visible, such as the curves and the tear drop shape. 

Jumo Bakelite lamp - Gustave Miklos 

Compared to the Jumo Bakelite lamp, there is the Cobra lamp which was done with the same style and designed by Norman Bel Geddes. This lamp was normally considered art deco, and since streamlining had emerged from Art Deco, some characteristics of this style are still visable. For example the use of nature in the product. compared with the Jumo lamp this has more organic shape and cannot swivel, since it has no joints to do so. 

Cobra lamp -Norman Bel Geddes 

Architecture.knoji.com. (2016). Streamlined Design: Modernity in America. [online] Available at: https://architecture.knoji.com/streamlined-design-modernity-in-america/ [Accessed 27 May 2016].

Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (1999). Design of the 20th century. Köln: Taschen.

Bersoantik.com. (2016). «BersoАнтик» - 1960 Ben Bowden Spacelander. [online] Available at: http://bersoantik.com/en/blog/2015/07/01/1960-ben-bowden-spacelander-/ [Accessed 27 May 2016].

Blog 9:

Organic Design in Products designs

A very holitistic approach and gave a humanizing feel of design was in fact Organic design. This was firstly introduced in architecture by having the whole work a replica or have a great feel of nature. The organic approach was this: having individual elements such as object and furniture throughout the house connected with the surroundings such as the building and the interior itself. Organic design is exactly how everything connects to everything.

Quite ironic is having an organic design which rarely uses organic forms! This was one of the styles that adapted to what nature had to offer but in a whole new other manner. 

Alvar Aalto, a great designer of this period had induced soft flowing curves in his designs. Following with a very natural material: Wood, which in his opinion it was the only material that inspired the human feeling. He totally rejected the alienating materials which where made in the industry and not naturally provided, such as the tubular steel; industrialized material. Along with this path that Alvar Alto took, he was very successful in the United States which changed this type of style from organic design to more organic modernism. 

This style is also very present now a days. In both architecture and in prodcut designs, organic design made a step forward with the help of better ergonomics and computer aided designs. The manufacturing process also made a step froward and everything related became very strong and successful. 

Alvar Alto's as mentioned already was a great advocate fro organic design. One of his great designes produced was the Model no. 43 the Lounge chair which was made out of solid and laminated birch frame and has woven paper straps for the seating part of the chair. This lounge chair shows a great example of what organic design really means. Having flowing curves and natural materials makes this chair outstanding to its function and design.

Alvar Aalto - Lounge Chair No. 43 

Moving on to recent decades, Ross Lovegrove a British designer, followed some of the footsteps of the Organic design. In fact he calls his designs as 'Organic Essentialism'. I think one of his influential chairs was the: Supernatural Chair, 2005, which is the result of economy, lightness, liquidity and resourcefulness of high technology. He believes that s designer has to have a 3D printer always near him to produce such innovative works.

This chair as opposed to the one Alvar Aalto had made, is stackable. Manufactured primarily for the Italian furniture manufacturer Moroso. This chair was greatly inspired but the forms which where found in nature itself. Lovegrove described this chair as and elegant and functional design. 

This chair is made from injection moulded polypropylene enforces with fibre glass and the detail that is evident in this chair is the perforated back. The perforated back was made like that for excess material, for the chair to be light weight, elasticity and to improve comfort for the user. 

Ross Lovegrove - Supernatural Chair 2005

Reference: 

Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (1999). Design of the 20th century. Köln: Taschen.

Latimesblogs.latimes.com. (2016). The Look for Less: Ross Lovegrove's Supernatural chair versus an eerily similar imitation. [online] Available at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/02/moroso-ross-lovegrove-supernatural-chair.html [Accessed 22 May 2016].

Phaidon. (2016). 'The chair is an infinite source of potential' | Design | Agenda | Phaidon. [online] Available at: http://de.phaidon.com/agenda/design/picture-galleries/2010/september/23/the-chair-is-an-infinite-source-of-potential/ [Accessed 22 May 2016].

Jacksons.se. (2016). Jacksons - Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair No. 43 - Alvar Aalto. [online] Available at: http://jacksons.se/products/alvar-aalto-chair-5687/ [Accessed 22 May 2016].

Blog 8:

Art Deco

A style which was considered over decorative and made use of a lot of details. In fact it was know as the international decorative style which started in Paris in the 1920's. Some of the elements of Art Deco were seen in different designers such as Wiener Werkstatte, Carlo Bugatti and the Russian Constructivists.

Art Deco took over from the style Art Nouveau and it adapted to other styles and movements such as: Ancient Egyptian Civilization, Tribal Art, Surrealism, Futurism, Constructivism, Neo Classicism, Geometric abstraction, Popular Culture and the Modern Movement. The Art Deco style was founded by Hector Guimard. 

Along with normal materials which were used at that time there were other luxurious materials such as exotic woods, Shargreen and mother of pearl. The furniture of Art Deco was not mass produced and so it ensured that this style was not going to be featured for a long term. 

An exhibition was opened in Paris named 'Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratis et Industries Modernes' and featured Le Corbusier's Pavillion and Ruhlmann's Hotel: du Collectionneur. From this great exhibtion the term 'Art Deco' was derived. This style emerged from France and Europe to Britain and the United States. 

Paul Frankl an american designer who designed a beautiful shelf with the form of a skyscraper and made out of Maple woo and Bakelite. This was a pure symbol of American Modernity. Frankl wanted to used these two materials to link the real skyscraper with his shelving. A new ear was about to emerge right after the design of this furniture. 

In Manhattan New York, William Van Alen build an architectural reference, the Chrysler Building which is an iconic building now-a-days. He wanted to built the tallest building in the world and that is what he did. Eleven months later, another building had reached the Chrysler buildings hight and when above it which was the Empire State Building. What's interesting is that there is a connection between the Chrysler building and the Chrysler

car. Sculptures modelled after the radiator caps can be visible in the Chrysler building as well. Other ornaments,such as the car wheels had decorative lower setbacks which are also visable in the building. 

Reference:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum. (2016). Paul T. Frankl | Skyscraper | The Met. [online] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/482533 [Accessed 20 May 2016].

Anon, (2016). [online] Available at: http:// [Accessed 20 May 2016].

Visual-arts-cork.com. (2016). Art Deco Design Style: Origins, History, Characteristics. [online] Available at: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/art-deco.htm [Accessed 20 May 2016].