Let's find furniture, wall colours, flooring and accessories to achieve this look......

Resene -  Link water

Resene - Half Alabaster

Blake Sofa - David Shaw

Trellis rug - irugsnz

Indiana Table lamp - interiordesignonline.nz

 Mulberri montgomery cowhide cushion

macrame cushion

Design History - Mid Century Modernism

The interiors were changing each decade during mid century modernism,
  & was recognised as the era of significant design movement in 
architecture, furniture & graphic design. (source) 

1933-1965

I have decided to look at the interiors 
of residential homes of the 40's, 50's & 60's

Top Left: Typical 1940's kitchen, Top Right: Living room,

Bottom Left: Bathroom, Colour Scheme,

Bottom Right: Radio was listened to by all the family, Trolley for serving teas.

The 1940's was the decade of World War II and people became accustomed to war rationing,  therefore some homes furniture, was repaired or you'd 'make do' with what you had.  Housewives often took up needlework, which would result in cheaper produced accessories for the home.  

Families would listen to the radio which was dominated by talk shows rather than listening to music of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller and the Big Band Dance music. source

Post war it became known as the 'vintage & nostalgic' period,  

a noticeable 'mix & match look' of art deco and English revival.  

   Floral patterns in curtains, wallpapers and furniture upholstery became popular.  Flooring would be either wood floors, tiles or linoleum source 

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Top Left: Pastel diner style kitchen, Top Right: TV was a new addition to living rooms, 50's style TV Bottom Left: Peach bathroom suite, 

 Pastel Colour scheme, Bottom right:Oven SMEG 

When we reminisce the 1950's interior, the classic American diner look kitchens and large fridges comes to mind(SMEG).  In the early fifties TV's were the new additions for living rooms, families would watch TV programmes such as 'I love Lucy', 'What's my line?' 'Adventures of Robin Hood' and the children's favourite 'Watch with mother'.   Living rooms became a little more open plan with furniture pieces used for partitions (notice the shelving unit in the black and white photo above).  The colour scheme became softer pastel colours throughout the home, bathrooms also became colour coordinated suites in pastel colours.   It was a time of 'out with the old and in with the new' source  

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Top left: Formica fitted kitchens, Top middle: Retro look lounge, Top right: Andy Warhol Art,
Colour scheme, Bottom Right: Bathroom depicting pop art colour,  Right:Trimline phones

In the 60's a fitted kitchen was a 'must have'.  The units were mainly made out of wood or metal which had to be painted.   Kitchens had more work tops and storage spaces and a product called 'Formica' (which was invented in 1912) was used to cover units as it was easier to keep clean and maintain.   Living rooms became more minimal with large chimney breasts made from stone, brick or wood panelling, making it a focal point in the room.  Colour scheme became more earthy with the the added orange tones which became very popular colour.
The Bakelite telephones were replaced by Trimline phones in the 60's.  
 It was the time of the Hippy culture, were people who were dissatisfied on how they had been brought up by their parents beliefs & ways.   They were mainly dropouts of society,  and it all began in America which spread to Canada & Britain.  They had their own distinctive lifestyle, which could be explained as an ethnic style. Art by Andy Warhol was renown in the 60's, it became known as 'Pop Art'.  Famous celebrities of America were his subjects in his paintings such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Marlon Brandon 
and his objects were the dollar bill, 
Campbell soup cans and coca-cola to name a few.   

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Left:40's Style Kitchen  Middle: A 'make do' chair Right: Get that 40's look for your bathroom

Left: the perfect nook for the diner look Middle:Chimney breast being the focus Right:Simple, yet a twist of the 50's

Left:A fresh 60's kitchen look Middle:I love orange! Right: A beautiful pink inspired bathroom - the carpet!

Art Nouveau - Design History

Art Nouveau

Nouveau postcard

1890 - 1914

Art Nouveau became the most unique 'Complete Artistic' era. Architects, designers & artists of this period took design into the future, moving forward by getting their inspiration from the natural/botanical world; nothing was repeated from the design history of the past.  Brussels is known to be the capital of Art Nouveau to date.

Art Nouveau a Bruxelles

What was easily noticed with the new style was......

long curved lines
feminie portraits
poppies
lillies
dragonflies
flowing curls
wispy trails of hair
Symmetrical patterns 
Swirling frames

Feminine art by Alphonse Mucha 

Designs included long stems on flowers such as 
poppies,lilies & roses with a modern twist 

Symmetrical design frame

Art Nouveau poster

I want to introduce you to some of the Belgian Architects,Artists and Designers of this period, and I have chosen Victor Horta, Gustav Serrurier-Bovy, & Philippe Wolfers.  Below are links of other's who influenced the Art Nouveau during this time......

Paul Cauche (1875-1952) - Belgian painter, decorator & architect

Paul Hankar (1859-1901) - architect & furniture designer

Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) - Austrian Architect, interior designer, artist

Victor Horta (1861-1947) - Belgian Art Nouveau Architect, decorator & designer

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) - painter/graphic artist

Paul Saintenoy(1862-1952) Belgian architect & teacher

Gustav Serrurier-Bovy (1858-1910) - furniture designer & crafts artist

Gustav Strauven (1878-1957) Belgian Architect

Henri Van de Velde (1863-1957) Belgian architect, furniture designer, decorator & writer

Philippe Wolfers(1858-1929) - Belgian jeweller, sculptor & glass ware designer

Victor Horta

Horta was the most famous key European Art Nouveau Architect.  He was
influenced at a young age of 12yrs old by his Uncle who was a builder.
Yet he delved into studying music, but he was 'booted' out for his bad behaviour!
Victor then decided to approach the Department of Architecture, and that's where it all began. He loved the use of iron and glass and these are evident in all his building designs.
  His passion for Art Nouveau style transformed Brussels i.e.houses, hotels, department stores & a hospital to name a few.  He became a Baron for his field of Architecture.
Many of his great building commissions were....

Top L: Interior space in the Tassel House Top R: Horta's own residence
Bottom L: Utilising iron & glass (Horta museum)
Bottom R: Maison Du Peuple, Brussels

Gustav Serrurier-Bovy 

Gustav Serrurier-Bovy was very much into the Art & Crafts movement, like many others
he did not want to see mass production stemming from the Industrial revolution
and therefore keeping the 'skills of creativity' unique and alive was important to the movement.
Gustav was influenced by William Morris a British craftsman, and therefore went to London to become a designer in furniture incorporating the modern style.  He returned to Brussels and opened furniture shops there and in Paris.

Top: Cabinet designed by Gustav
Bottom: Complete bed unit & full length mirror 

Philippe Wolfers

Philippe Wolfers was a well known jewellery designer along with his two brothers 
who took over their father Louis's trade & profession as a goldsmith.  
Philippe was influenced initially by the Japanese art,using bamboo,fans and 
flowers in his earlier designs of jewellery in silver.
Philippe progressed into sculpting and was a reputable glassware designer 
for the glass company Val Saint Lambert. One of his glass designs (below)
the 'Crepuscule Vase', featuring a bat in several layers of crystal was most unique.
The introduction of flowers such as orchids, fuchsias, freesias and cyclamens 
were designs he applied to silverware collections and therefore he played a very important part 
in the Art Nouveau in Belgium.  Philippe crossed paths with Victor Horta who designed his headquarters.  
He went on to design in the Art Deco period.

Top: 'Varietes d'orchidees'

Bottom: 'Crepuscule Vase'

'Get the Look' today.......

To execute an Art Nouveau modern style for the enthusiast of today,

is quite achievable.  The beautiful sculptured curved & horizontal lines

of the staircase with its parquet wood patterned steps is so 

'in sync' with the style.  Adorn & accessories with a little Nouveau touch

with these visual new art pottery vases  A gorgeous eloquent

dinning Chair with its curved tapering back and the distinctive curved pattern

detail at the top would compliment any dining table.  The main emphasis of a room

could incorporate the organic curved/vertical lines across 
the modern curved ceiling/ wall system and walls,

  Art Nouveau offerings in the taking.......(links below)

Top L: Staircase   Top R: Vases by Calm water designs - Stephanie Young
Bottom L: Dinning Chair   Bottom R: Modern curved ceiling/ wall system 

Ancient Greece - Design History

References:

ancientgreece.com

en.wikipedia.org

britannica.com

ehow.com

slideshare.net
greece.mrdonn.org
life123.com
history for kids.org

Disco Shell 2024

PRESENTATION STRATEGIES

ASSIGNMENT 2, PART 2

It all started with a Roman snail shell!


Brief - It is the year 2024 and as you know a lot has changed over the past 10years - most excitingly, due to the introduction of new building materials. construction has become far more fluid and exciting; we've finally learned to step out of the box!

For this project I needed to find a magical space that I could shrink myself down to live in
(eg.  the interior of a teapot, a ball, a hole in the wall etc.)
I had to scale it up for human habitation using drawing and presentation techniques.

Work requirements:

Furnished floor Plan
Furnished cross-section
2-3 perspective drawings

I chose a Roman snail shell and turned into a Disco/Club
I love the complexity of the sculpture of this shell and I decided to challenge myself to draw the above requirements.
My inspiration came from knowing there are no discos anymore; yes there are pubs and clubs, but it would be fantastic to bring back the disco where people can meet to socialise, dance, de stress by having fun.

Floor plan

Cross -section

Hey Mr DJ, put a record on.......(Madonna Song)

Drinks by the poolside in one of the curved pods of the shell

Some of my quick sketches I drew once we were given the brief in class.

Then the images are colour rendered by hand using pastels, colouring pencils & rendering pens

The hand rendered floor plan is then taken to photoshop and more rendering is applied to add the finishing touches.  I just want to go there, don't you?

Cross section after photoshop rendering

"Hey Mr DJ put a record on.......I wanna dance with my baby"

I enjoyed this project so much and why not dream a little to create that magical space!

With the various materials and technology of today anything is possible and this could be achieved by 2014 without doubt.