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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Design History: Art Deco

Art Deco is a decorative design style or movement that is also known as Style Moderne. It was widely used in architecture, interior design, fashion and jewelry. (Source) It was also seen in other art forms such as sculpture, industrial design (Read more here) as well as in the aviation and automobile industries. (Source) Art Deco style was so popular that its usage can be found in almost all aspects of design even in common consumer products like household items and electrical appliances. (Read more here)

Typical Art Deco Design

Timeline

The Art Deco period started in France in1920 right after the end of the First World War. The fast progress of technology after the war gave birth to a design style that uses luxurious materials. (Source) The Art Deco era began to wane during the 2nd World War in the1940s. (Source) People felt that its luxurious style was not appropriate to the times which led to its decline. (Read more here) The later part of this period is also known as the Streamline Moderne. This design style emerged in the late 1930s and was inspired by the the contours and long straight lines used in new aeroplane and automobile designs.

WW1 Propaganda Poster

Add World War 2 Poster

How Art Deco Came To Be

Art Deco is generally viewed as a purely decorative art with no philosophical basis. (Source) Other historians though say that Art Deco was born as a reaction against the austerity imposed by the First World War. It was initially considered a luxurious style as it used expensive and exotic materials like silver, crystal, jade, ivory and lacquer. As WW2 began, Art Deco designs made used of cheaper, mass produced materials such as chrome, plastic and other industrial items as the middle class' demand for this type of design grew. (Read more here) The designs became more streamlined as designers took inspiration from the transportation industry particularly the scientific progress in the aerodynamics principle used in its exterior design.

1930s Chrysler Automobile

Streamlined Steam Iron c1930

Most Notable Art Deco Attributes

Art Deco design is best known for its geometric shapes and symmetry which were adapted from the ancient Greeks & Romans design. It was also hugely influenced by ancient Egypt as seen in its use of the zigzag (chevron), trapezoid and triangular pyramid-like shapes. Art Deco is also known for its streamlined style of design characterized by the use of contours and curves, long lines and sunbursts which were inspired by the speed and aerodynamics of the Machine Age. (Source)

Roman Catholic Church in the US

Art Deco Mantel Clock c1930

Chrysler Building

Colours Used In Art Deco

Art Deco is known for its bright sometimes garish colours. These lively, energetic colours sympolize the prosperity of the times (Source)

Silver, gold, metallic blue and charcoal grey were also widely used to symbolize the wealth and prosperity of the times in between the two world wars. (Source)

In the late Art Deco era where streamlined designs were popular, neutral colours were widely used. (Source)

But the most popular colours of this era were black and white. as it was considered a sophisticated colour scheme. (Source)

Materials Used in Art Deco

New materials used in designs were also influenced by the Machine Age. Stainless steel, aluminum. plastic, inlaid wood and lacquer became popular choices as materials. The expensive materials used in the previous era-Art Nouveau, such as moulded glass and ivory were still used but other exotic items such as shark skin and zebra skin were introduced.

"La Fontaine" ("The Fountain") Fire Screen by Edgar Brandt C1924

Moulded glass box c1930s

Zebra Skin Art Deco Armchairs

Contemporary Art Deco-Inspired Architecture & Interiors

Source

The film The Great Gatsby, which is set in the 1920s is the perfect example of the Art Deco Style

A contemporary interior influenced by this film

Art Deco was a very successful style and movement. It's luxurious and flamboyant designs reflected the modern technology and prosperity of that era. After its decline in the 1940s, it made a comeback in the 1960s together with the Pop Art culture and again in the 1980s with the advent of graphic design. (Source)

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Design History: Baroque & Rococo Period

Baroque & Rococo are terms used to describe both a time period in history and a cultural movement and style of art that began in that period. ((Read more here) This blog post will focus on the architectural and interior design aspects of this time period and how this influence is seen in modern interiors.

Timeline

(1600 AD -1740 AD)

The Baroque Period started in Rome, Italy at the beginning of the 17th Century as the Renaissance was coming to a close. (More) It lasted for just about 100 years and has 3 sub periods - Early, Middle & Late Baroque. It is immediately followed by the short-lived Rococo Period which lasted about 40 years. Some historians believe that Rococo is just actually the Late Baroque era so they sometimes use the term synonymously with each other. The Rococo Period ended with the emergence of the Neoclassical Era in the mid 18th century. (More)

Photo Credit

Baroque Architecture

Baroque as an architectural style is known for its elaborate, highly detailed, overly ornamental, and very dramatic expression. Historians claim this style developed from the Renaissance architecture and then grandeur and religiosity were added to it in an ostentatious manner. Notable architectural features of this era includes, colonnades, domes, chiaroscuro (play of light and shade) and the strong play of volume and void. (Read more)

St. Charles Church in Vienna, Austria

CULTURAL POLITICAL & TECHNOLOGICAL ELEMENTS THAT AFFECTED THE DESIGNS OF THE BAROQUE PERIOD

The Baroque Movement came about mainly because of 3 cultural, political and technological events happening during that time. The first one was the Catholic Church's perceived threat of the Counter-Reformation movement (aka Protestant religion) which was gaining popularity. The Catholic Church took a propaganda-like stance by using the arts to propagate their faith further. Dramatic religious paintings and architectural features in churches were done to stimulate religious piety among the masses and convey a sense of the divine. (More)

The second reason was the consolidation of the different monarchies into a central state which made it so powerful. These nobility wanted to display their wealth and power so Baroque style palaces and grand homes were built on a monumental scale. The upward movement of the middle class also led to a wider art patronage base helping to push the Baroque style further up. ( More)

Palace of Versailles

The third was the beginning of a huge interest in nature and the realization that man is so small compared to the infiniteness of the universe. Scientific developments such as the discovery that the earth is not the center of the universe hugely affected the design of the times. Baroque landscape paintings depicting man as a minute figure in a vast surrounding is an example of this.

The earth is NOT the center of the universe

Lanscape Painting

The Baroque Architectural style was propagated by 3 famous artists of that era, sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini, architect Francesco Borromini and the painter Pietro da Cortona ( Read more about the artists here)

Rococo Architecture

The Rococo style started in 18th Century France. (Source) as a strong reaction against the stiffness and formality of the Baroque style. (Read more here) As people veered away from the heavy, oppressive and monumental style of Baroque, a newer, lighter and more graceful and carefree style emerged. (More) Architects of that era started to design the new houses of the nobles in this style.

Photo Credit

Rococo is characterized by the use of light pastels, delicate details and intricate patterns, elaborate curves and scrolls and ornaments shaped like shells and plants. (More) Asymmetrical design and use of mirrors to enhance the sense of open spaces were also features of Rococo style. (More)

Traditional Baroque & Rococo Interiors

Traditionally, Baroque interiors are characterized by very luxurious and over the top ornamental decors. Rich and dark colours are often paired with gold. Rococo interiors are essentially a pared down, lighter version of Baroque.

Traditional Baroque Lounge

Traditional Rococo Bedroom

The Modern Baroque Interior

Today, in modern times, the Baroque influence can be seen in homes where owners want a luxurious and opulent feel reminiscent of the 17th Century style but in drastically toned down style to produce a still rich but more refined, artistic and elegant design.

Modern Baroque Bedroom

In these two photos, the Baroque influence can be seen in the use of highly textured fabrics on the sofa and blanket and headboard. The use of picture frames all throughout the wall is also a throwback to the Baroque style of adding exaggerated details to add drama and grandeur to the interiors. The crystal chandeliers are also considered a trademark of this style.(More)

Modern Baroque Lounge

The Modern Rococo Interior

Rococo interiors today carry the same rich, artistic style of the Baroque era but in a much lighter and less intense tone. This is achieved mainly by using pastel colours and accessorizing with fun whimsical art and less heavily-ornamented chandeliers.(More)

Modern Rococo Home Office

Textured fabrics and wallcovering, less fussy carving on furnitures and an asymmetrical design placement are all reminiscent of traditional Rococo style done in a modern way.

To summarize, although both Baroque & Rococo styles can easily become very flamboyant if done in excess, when styled right, they can be very artistic, sophisticated and elegant. (More)

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Design History: Medieval Period

Medieval Period: Between Ancient & Modern

Overview

Timeline

The Medieval Period is the time in human history that began when the Roman Empire fell. It lasted a thousand years, from around the 5th to the 15th Century AD, until the start of the Modern or Renaissance Period. After the collapse of the Roman civilization, 3 empires inherited its legacies - the Byzantine, Islamic & Western Europe civilizations. This blog entry will only focus on the Western European history. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HIST201-1-LegacyofRomanEmpire-FINAL1.pdf

https://bilingualiesae.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/mireyas-timeline.png

The Medieval Age is such a long period that it is often classified into 3 sub periods:

The Dark Ages, often referred to as the Early Middle Ages or Late Antiquity (5th-10th century)
High Middle Ages (11th - 13th century)
Late Middle Ages (14-15th century) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Middle_Ages

https://storify.com/sewonahn/middle-age

Historians often call the first period the Dark Ages because there were hardly any literary, artistic or cultural creations or advances that came from this period. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HIST201-1-LegacyofRomanEmpire-FINAL1.pdf Not much was known about this time in history because unlike the Romans who kept complete records of their civilization, there was no central government that kept a complete recording of events right after the Roman Empire fell. (http://www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages_timeline.php) In this era, the Western European civilization was the weakest among the three empires.

https://wellspentjourney.wordpress.com/2013/10/

Social & Philosophical Contexts

The Medieval Age is largely defined by wars, battles, bloodsheds and lots of violent fightings. Internal conflicts as well as threats from invaders were a major theme in this era. The Holy Wars or religious wars between the Islamic Empire and Christianity (called The Crusades) also happened in this age.. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HIST201-1-LegacyofRomanEmpire-FINAL1.pdf

2700 Muslims executed by Richard the Lionhearted at Acre (3rd Crusade 1189-93)

This was also the time when feudalism began to take hold. Feudalism is a social and political system where kings ruled over the lords and the lords ruled over the knights and vassals and in turn, these knights & vassals ruled over the peasants and serfs. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HIST201-1-LegacyofRomanEmpire-FINAL1.pdf

http://imgarcade.com/1/feudalism-in-the-middle-ages-pyramid/

From feudalism, manorialism naturally came into existence. Manorialism is the economic system where the nobles give a piece of land known as fief to the knights and vassals in exchange for their loyalty and military service whenever it was needed. The fief includes the manor or estates and villages where peasants and serfs lived and worked in the land in exchange for protection from invaders. http://gibsonworldhistory.weebly.com/lesson-2-feudalism-and-manorialism.htm

The High Middle Ages saw the birth of a new socio-economic class. This was brought about by a booming economy. They were the merchants and skilled artisans who rose from the ranks of peasants. They occupied the position below the knights and vassals and above the peasants and serfs.

The Late Middle Ages was a period of crisis, tragedies and chaos due mainly to the Black Death. 30-50 % of Western Europe's population were wiped out by by a disease known as Bubonic Plague in a matter of 2 to 3 years. Food shortages and famine were widespread due to a failing economy. This led to inflation and subsequently, uprisings from the peasants. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HIST201-1-LegacyofRomanEmpire-FINAL1.pdf

http://www.seantwiddy.com/?attachment_id=370

It was also during the Medieval Times when the different kings tried to gain power, control and dominance over other empires which led to massive wars. This culture of war in turn, led to the building of fortresses and castles to defend their empires from attacks from enemies and invaders. http://www.historyforkids.net/early-middle-ages.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2345008/Photos-Some-worlds-beautiful-locations-civilisation-abandoned.html

Aesthetics

Castles: The Symbol of the Medieval Times

Today when people talk about the Medieval Period, one immediately conjures up images of castles and knights in shining armour. It is after all, the era's most tangible legacy to the world and the most distinctive mark of the Medieval Age.

http://www.birthdaydirect.com/medieval-knight-party-square-beverage-napkins-16-p-18662.html

Castles were usually built on the highest point of the land so normally it would be on the top of a hill. This is so that the knights can see their enemies from afar. From this high vantage point, they can easily shoot arrows at invaders. Some castles are surrounded by a moat which is a deep ditch dug around a castle and filled with water. A drawbridge that can be raised up and down as needed was one of its first line of defense. http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/castles.html

Some Famous Medieval Castles

Blarney Stone Castle in Ireland

Kiss the stone and you will never be at a loss for words ever again!

Fortress of the Knights (Krak des Chevaliers) in Syria. It was built in the 10th Century and was one of the most important medieval military castle. It played a big part in the First Crusade. A century later it became a hospital. http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/mysterious-medieval-castle-identified.htm

Windsor Castle was first built during the 11th Century in England. It was first built in timber and mud, then later on fortified with stone. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It is now used as the official summer residence of the Queen and is a famous tourist spot.http://www.londonpass.com/london-attractions/windsor-castle.html

Evolution of Medieval Castle Architectural Style

The Medieval architectural style went through many changes as building, knowledge and living standards improved through the centuries.

1) Romanesque/Norman

A) Timber Motte and Bailey Castle

B) Stone Motte and Bailey castles
(replaced the timber structures because of its susceptibility to fire)

C) Square Castle Keep/Tower

D) Round Castle Keep

E) Shell Castle Keep (Replaced the wooden palisade)

2) Edwardian Medieval Architecture ( Concentric Castle) Feature: Double Wall for Defense (High Inner & Low Outer Wall); Alternate positioning of tower

3) Medieval Gothic Castles (3 Phases)

A) Early English Gothic

http://medievalcastles424.weebly.com/architecture.html

B) Decorated Gothic

http://medievalcastles424.weebly.com/architecture.html

C) Perpendicular Gothic

http://medievalcastles424.weebly.com/architecture.html

What is a Battlement?

Battlement - a low wall at the top of a castle with open spaces where the knights shoot their arrows through. The open space is called crenel. The merlot is the walled part where they take shield.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battlement