Art Deco & Industrial Design

Heroic Modernism

With the emergence of Heroic Modernism in the early 20th century, design underwent a dramatic change. This trend sought to embrace industrialization, minimalism, and functionality while rejecting traditional styles. At the vanguard of this change was the Bauhaus School, which Walter Gropius established in 1919 and combined technology, craftsmanship, and art. Bauhaus designers influenced modern architecture and furniture design by emphasizing geometric shapes, clean lines, and sparse decoration.

The Barcelona Chair, created by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, is among the most famous items from this era. This chair epitomized the modernist idea of form following function with its sleek steel frame and leather covering. In a similar vein, Bauhaus graduate Marcel Breuer made a substantial impact on modern furniture, especially with his Wassily Chair, which transformed the usage of tubular steel in furniture design.

Breuer, meantime, was instrumental in bringing modernist principles outside of Germany when he was in Britain. During the interwar years, his work in the UK influenced British architecture and interior design, carrying on the Bauhaus tradition. Alvar Aalto was another important modernist who helped establish Scandinavian modernism with his Finnish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair, which included natural materials and organic shapes.

Art Deco

The lavish and ornamental Art Deco movement ran counter to the austere modernism of the Bauhaus. Luxury, opulent materials, and striking geometric designs were hallmarks of Art Deco, which first appeared in the 1920s and 1930s. At the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, where designers showcased avant-garde interiors, lighting, and furniture that combined traditional craftsmanship with industrial technology, the movement received official recognition.

Vibrant colors, exotic woods, and polished metals were all common in Art Deco interior design. Notable examples of the movement's impact on architecture include the Chrysler Building in New York, which had streamlined lines and decorative elements influenced by modernity, speed, and technology. Although the method stood in stark contrast to modernism's minimalist functionality, the two forms worked together to influence the early 20th century's built environment.

The field of design saw tremendous transformation with the start of field War II. Lack of materials and financial limitations compelled designers to take more practical measures. Bauhaus ideas expanded throughout the world, especially in the US, as a result of the exodus of several architects and designers from Europe. Mid-century modernism, a simplified development of modernist and Art Deco elements, had a major impact on post-war design.

Favorite Design from Art Deco & Industrial Design:

Barcelona Chair – Mies van der Rohe (1929)

Savoy Vase – Alvar Aalto

Finnish Pavilion (1939) – Alvar Aalto

Current Application:

Minimalist modern interiors with Bauhaus-style furniture

Contemporary architecture incorporating Aalto’s organic forms

Modern chairs influenced by Breuer’s tubular steel design

One Step Further: Marcel Breuer

I looked at the work of Marcel Breuer, a key player in modernist furniture design, for this week's deeper dig. Breuer, who received his training at the Bauhaus, revolutionized modern seating with his inventive use of tubular steel in furniture. An outstanding example of early modernism, his Wassily Chair (1925) used industrial materials in a way that was both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

After relocating to the US, Breuer pursued a career in architecture, creating designs for buildings such as New York's Whitney Museum of American Art. His legacy still has an impact on contemporary design, especially in areas of furniture and interior design that prioritize structural integrity and simplicity.