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Mid-Century modern
is an architectural, interior and product design form that generally describes
mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture, and urban
development from roughly 1933
to 1965.
The term was coined in 1983 by Cara Greenberg for the title of her
ground-breaking book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s_ (Random
House), celebrating the style which is now recognized by scholars and museums
worldwide as a significant design movement. Mid-century architecture was a
further development of Frank Lloyd Wright's principles of organic
architecture combined with many elements reflected in the International and
Bauhaus movements. Mid-century modernism, however, was much more organic
in form and less formal than the International Style. Scandinavian designers and
architects were very influential at this time, with a style characterized by
simplicity, democratic design and natural shapes. Like many of Wright's designs,
Mid-Century architecture was frequently employed in residential structures with
the goal of bringing modernism into America's post-war suburbs. This style
emphasized creating structures with ample windows and open floor-plans with the
intention of opening up interior spaces and bringing the outdoors in. Many
Mid-century houses utilized then-groundbreaking post and beam architectural design that eliminated bulky support walls in favor
of walls seemingly made of glass. Function was as important as form in
Mid-Century designs, with an emphasis placed specifically on targeting the needs
of the average American family. Examples of residential Mid-Century modern
architecture are frequently referred to as the California Modern style. |