Synopses & Reviews
Midcentury modern is back. From the American classics of Charles and Ray Eames to the Scandinavian elegance of Arne Jacobsen, nothing is hotter today than the endlessly inventive, sophisticated work created by modern architects and designers in the 1940s and 1950s.
This beautifully illustrated book is an unparalleled look at the revolutionary design of the midtwentieth century -- a period that today reigns unchallenged among style setters and a new generation of homeowners and collectors. Filled with stunning photographs of landmark midcentury houses and exuberant collections of furniture and decorative arts, Classic Modern tells us why, where, and how midcentury modern design came about. It also shows how people are living with the brilliant work of such timeless figures as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Richard Neutra, George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi, and Marcel Breuer, not to mention the prodigious Eameses.
Showcasing the style's elegance, wit, and humanism, Deborah K. Dietsch introduces the basic tenets of midcentury modernism, walking us through the era's distinctive look and presenting influential homes by inventive European architects such as Neutra, Mies, Breuer, and Albert Frey. She then follows this dynamic style as it moved into mainstream American culture. When European sophistication met American invention, led by the charismatic polymaths Charles and Ray Eames, the result was dazzling. Recapturing the energy and optimism inherent at midcentury, the book concludes with a visit to outstanding collections that show how comfortably modern pieces fit into today's homes. And, for those who want to furnish their own residences with appropriate reproductions and the classic pieces still being made, an illustrated catalogue presents fifty items, from the Eameses' famed molded-plywood lounge chair and Nelson's whimsical marshmallow sofa to Saarinen's pedestal chairs and the sensuous ceramics of Eva Zeisel.
Classic Modern is a marvelous celebration of the twentieth century's most important contribution to design. Hipper than ever, midcentury modernism is here to stay -- an American classic.
Table of Contents
Contents the essence of modern
model houses, modern dreams
Prosperity after World War II unleashed a new way of looking at the home in the United States and Europe. Open spaces and lightweight furnishings gained popularity as symbols of newfound optimism and energy. With the birth of the suburbs, the midcentury modern style spread from custom-built houses to ordinary homes.
the midcentury look
Starting with the outside of a house and moving to its furnishings and finishes, even down to the dinner-table settings, designers of the 1940s and 1950s worked to create a seamless look that melded together the indoors and the outdoors.
flowing spaces, casual living transparent barriers
malleable materials, mass produced
furniture of many uses
textures nubby and plain
cheering colors and bold patterns
curvaceous organic shapes
sculptural accessories
midcentury modern at home
From the earliest classics that crew out of European modernism to the successors that revolutionized mainstream living, two dozen home and design collections epitomized the spirited midcentury look.
modern to the core: classic houses
The modern movement's European leaders brought their ideas to America, where new influences awaited. Their houses reflect the streamlined elegance that inspired a younger generation to embrace modernism and push it in new directions. throwing a curve
Albert Frey x Palm Springs, California x 1946
machine in the garden
Richard Neutra x Palm Springs, California x 1946
less is more
Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe x Plano, Illinois x 1951
bauhaus, american style
Marcel Mreuer x Croton-on-Hudson, New York x 1953
modern monticello
Eero Saarinen x Columbus Indiana x 1957
urban sanctuary
José Luis Sert x Cambridge Massachusetts x 1958
time-honored values
Jens Risom interiors x New Canaan, Connecticut, and Block Island, Rhode Island x 1950s and 1967
mainstream modern: affordable style
Modernism was disseminated into mainstream America through affordable houses filled with mass-produced furniture. Architect-designed homes and speculative suburban developments from the 1940s and 1950s illustrate the freedom and invention that revolutionized postwar living. missionary living
Case-study houses nos. 9, 16, and 22 by Charles Eames and Eer Saarinen, Craig Ellwood, and Pierre Koenig x Los Angeles x 1945-59
symphony in steel
Charles and Ray Eames x Pacific Palisades, California x 1949
suburban frontier
Eugene Sternberg and Joseph Dion x Englewood, Colorado x 1949-57
into the woods
Charles Goodman x Alexandria, Virginia x 1949-60s
umbrella in the sun
Paul Rudolph x Sarasota, Florida x 1953
western pioneers
Jones and Emmons x San Mateo, California x 1956
passion for plastic
Ralph Wilson Sr. and Bonnie McIninish x Temple, Texas x 1959
back to the future: living with midcentury modern
Midcentury modernism is back, as collectors rediscover the simple allure of postwar plywood and plastic from America and wood and glass from Europe. Housed in period settings as well as in unexpected environments, these collections testify to the enduring value of midcentury deisgn. the art of reduction
Clarence Mayhew x Oakland, California x 1960
minimalist temple
Richard Neutra x San Diego, California x 1960
calming effect
Richard Neutra x Glendale, California x 1961
industrial evolution
John Lawrence x New Orleans, Louisiana x 1958
beginner's luck
Julian Berla and Joseph Abe x Washington, D. C. x 1941
modernist summit
Shelton, Midel and Associates x New York City x 1997
city deco, country classic
Heiner M. Kromer x Southampton, New York x 1982
nordic harmony
Philip Truchaud x Washington, D. C. x 1955
midcentury maverick
Mark McDonald interior x New York City x 1992
modern necessities
catalogue resources
midcentury designers
further reading
index