Context that Changed Design - Entry #18

“Organic Design” ……

 

In the late 19^th century, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright prepared the way for Organic Design in architecture – their architectural projects, as a whole, showed unity and the qualities of nature.  The Organic approach was all about a connection between separate elements (for example pieces of furniture and objects) and their surroundings.  The surroundings, not only included the interior of rooms but also the building as a whole, and its surrounding environment.  So, it was very important that the designs of the interiors connected with everything else around it – this involved conformity between dimensions, colours and material used.  The good connection of furniture with the individual users had to be both visibly and practically – the look and the function of the furniture.

 

Organic Design is associated with natural materials, for example wood.  Alvar Aalto, who was one of the greatest recommenders of Organic Design, believed that wood was “the form-inspiring, deeply human material” and that natural materials had a good effect on people because they satisfied their functional and emotional needs.  In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Aalto began experimenting with wood – by bending it – and this led to his innovative chairs.  His moulded plywood and laminated wood seat furniture revealed “soft flowing curves”.  Until that time, organic forms had rarely been used in organic designs.  Alvar Aalto’s modern chair designs certainly opposed the elevated geometric forms that were used in the International Style (that I wrote about a few days ago).

Savoy Vase, Model no. 3031

 

Designophy, (2011), Savoy Vase, Model no.3031 [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.designophy.com/uploadedimages/tmn/2009/01/09/148_5.jpg
[Accessed 28 November 13]

 

 

Paimio chair, Model no.41

Designophy, (2011), Paimio chair, Model no.41 [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.designophy.com/uploadedimages/tmn/2009/01/09/148_2.jpg
 [Accessed 28 November 13]

 

Stool, Model no.60

Je suis femme d`auriculaire y un poco indecisa tambien, (2013), 60 stacking stool (1933) [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.moma.org/collection_images/resized/058/w500h420/CRI_171058.jpg

 [Accessed 28 November 13]

In 1940, a competition organized in New York by Eliot Fette Noyes marked a stage in the history of design.  The competition was entitled “Organic Design in Home Furnishings” and Noyes’ aim was to publicize this new approach to design.  In the catalogue, which was produced at the same time as the competition, Noyes described the Organic Design as:

 

“a harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.  Within this definition there can be no vain ornamentation or superfluity, but the part of beauty is none the less great – in ideal choice of material, in visual refinement, and in the rational elegance of things intended for use.”

 

Modernism 101: from aalto to zwart, (2013), ORGANIC DESIGN IN HOME FURNISHINGS [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.modernism101.com/images/m101_organic_design.jpg
[Accessed 28 November 13]

The Contents of the Book:

• Organic Design
• Winning Designers
• Acknowledgments
• A Note on the Competition
• Outline of the Development of Modern Furniture
• Unit Furniture
• Chair Construction
• Chairs by Saarinen and Eames
• Furniture by Craig and Hatfield
• Furniture by Nicholson and Maier
• Furniture by Stonorov and Von Moltke
• Furniture by Saarinen and Eames
• Furniture by Anderson and Bellah
• Furniture by Weese and Baldwin
• Lamps by Pfisterer
• Weaves by Marli Ehrman
• Prints by Antonin Raymond
• Latin American Designs
• Selected Bibliography
• Biographical Index

Organic Armchair by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames

Phaidon Club, (2006), Phaidon Design Classic, No. 289 [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.phaidon.com/resource/charles-eames-289-02.jpg
[Accessed 28 November 13]

Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames together submitted their designs for the “Seating for a Living Room” category in the above-mentioned competition.  Apart from being prize-winning entries, their designs were amongst the most important furniture of the 20^th century and other designers were greatly inspired by their works.  Later designs – such as the moulded plywood chairs (1945-1946) by Charles and Ray Eames, and the womb chair (1947-1948) by Eero Saarinen – showed how much they aimed for unity in their organic furniture designs.   This was revealed in the structures, functions and the materials used.

 

Moulded plywood chairs (1945-1946) by Charles and Ray Eames 

Miniature LCW in natural, black & red

 

MiniatureChairMan, (2013), Organic Armchair Charles Charles and Ray Eames - Plywood Group [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.miniaturechairman.com/uploads/2/7/1/9/2719619/5627416_orig.jpg

[Accessed 28 November 13]

 

One of the most extraordinary buildings of the 20^th century is the TWA Terminal at Kennedy Airport – the masterpiece of Eero Saarinen – a remarkable example of Organic Design in Architecture.

Conde Nast Traveler, (2013), Courtesy Port Authority NY/NJ [ONLINE].

 Available at: http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/10/visit-eero-saarinens-twa-flight-center-at-jfk/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_colctrl/par-col2/cn_blogpost/cn_image_0.size.twa-terminal-nyc-architecture-trends.jpg

[Accessed 28 November 13]

 

 

Other References:

Designophy. 2011. Alvar Aalto. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.designophy.com/designpedia/photoalbum.php?pn=f1&pid=1000000008. [Accessed 28 November 13]

 

Je suis femme d`auriculaire y un poco indecisa tambien. 2013. **la PAIMIO LOUNGE CHAIR de Alvar Aalto (1930) . [ONLINE] Available at: http://jesuisfemmedauriculaire.blogspot.com/2012/10/la-paimio-lounge-chair-de-alvar-aalto.html. [Accessed 28 November 13]

 

Modernism 101: from aalto to zwart. 2013. ORGANIC DESIGN IN HOME FURNISHINGS . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.modernism101.com/noyes_organic_design.php.

[Accessed 28 November 13]

 

Vitra Design Museum. 2013. Organic Armchair Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen.

 [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/100-masterpieces/detailseiten/organic-armchair-charles-eames-und-eero-saarinen.html.

 [Accessed 28 November 13]


Book: Fiell, C.F and P.F, 1999. Design of the 20th Century. 2nd ed. Germany: Taschen