1. The Ascendancy of Modernism
World War II limited design activity in America and a virtual stop in Europe
Gradual return to prosperity
New office facilities, hospitals, colleges, interior design
Glass walled skyscraper for business first in USA, then in London and Paris
Melamine plastic as impervious material for furniture and counter top surfaces
Glass fibre-reinforced plastics for chairs in curvilinear forms
Plastic were binders for paneling made of wood chips – wall surfacing and furniture construction
Plaster for walls and ceiling were used for factory made products – sheet rocks or dry wall
Interior Design Materials
Synthetic materials such as plastics replaced older natural materials
Textiles and carpets using synthetic fibres
Vinyl floor tiles
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

2. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Interior Design Constructions
Ceiling hung from above by a system of metal strips that held panels of sound absorbing materials
Lighting and air circulation integrated into the ceiling design
Windows as a source of light and ventilation replaced by mechanical air conditioning systems
Inexpensive fluorescent lighting for commercial and institutional spaces
Plastics for carpets, textiles and furniture
Design became more international – spread everywhere
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

3. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Italy
Pier Luigi Nervi, Palace of labour, Italy – 1961
Scale model viewed from above
Concrete columns with spreading leaf like arms form the structure for the large Exhibition Hall
Joe Colombo, furniture, Milan, Italy
Futuristic apartment using circular forms as a theme
Arranged rotating elements including a dining table shelf and a cabriolet bed with a folding canopy
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

4. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Arne Jacobsen, SAS Royal Hotel, Denmark – 1958
Quiet form
Curving arm chair – Egg Chair
Svem Markelius, Folkets Hus, Sweden – 1934
Large auditorium
Seating in curving rows to permit easy access
Simple, functional forms are enlivened by the ceiling design
Lighting takes the form of bright disks floating against a darker background
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

5. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Kaleva church, Finland– 1966
Tall interior space is created by fin like concrete walls widely spaced to make room for bands of windows
The roof is made of concrete panels positioned to match the spacing of the walls
The colour scheme is subdued grays, except for the warm wood tones of the seating and the pipes for the organ
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

6. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Open plan office, Germany– 1968
Office landscape – open plan office
Private offices and closed spaces are replaced by freely positioned groups of furniture which are sited according to patterns of communication
The swirling lines indicate circulation paths
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

7. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Frei Otto, German Pavilion Expo 67, Montreal – 1967
The use of tension cables hanging from masts supports a plastic skin encourages the development of freely curving shapes
The translucency of the roof material made the interior lighted during the day while the interior lighting made the exterior glow in the night
Hertzberger – Insurance office, Netherlands -1973
Cellular organization of office
Modular platforms at balconies at various levels
Each worker has a unique setting
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

8. The Ascendancy of Modernism
J.L. Martin, Royal festival Hall, London – 1951
The ceiling forms and curved fronts of boxes on side walls – acoustic considerations
Concealed lighting on ceiling
The natural wood of the three panels at the front focus attention on the platform area
Exposed pipes of the large organ – decorative element above the stage
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

9. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo – Offices, Illinois, 1955
Work spaces arranged on two floors of two rectangular blocks
Have a spacious garden atrium between them
Every workstation has a sight of the atrium or the park setting
Eero Saarinen, TWA Terminal, Kennedy Airport, New York
Work spaces arranged on two floors of two rectangular blocks
Have a spacious garden atrium between them
Every workstation has a sight of the atrium or the park setting
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

10. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Richard Neutra, Kaufmann House, California – 1947
Simplicity
The large roll away glass areas and simple treatment of floors and ceiling give the interior space a unity with the carefully planned garden areas outside
Frank Lloyd Wright – Guggenheim Museum, New York
The museum’s main rotunda space is formed by the great spiral ramp
Art works are displayed against the outside wall which follows the curve of the ramp
Colour is a cream-off white with plants providing green accents
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

11. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Marcel Breuer, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York – 1966
Rectangular stone floor
Over head grid contains adjustable lighting fittings combine with the white walls
Trapezoidal windows project out of the building’s exterior walls
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

12. The Ascendancy of Modernism
I.M.Pei and Partners
National Airlines Terminal, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York – 1972
Open space roofed with a space frame structure has exterior walls of glass
IBM offices, New York – 1974
Three storey office building has walls of continuous glass
Circulation space follows the glass walls
All workers have equal access to the light and views
Each floor is carpeted in an identifying colour contrasting with the green plants
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

13. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Juilliard Theatre, New York – 1968
Moderate size and extensive use of natural wood
Office interior – 1985
Typical screen-partition system and furniture
Ergonomically designed chairs
Interchangeable panels – coloured fabric cover or clear or obscure glass according to the needs
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

14. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Flo Work station and storage units, United States, 1997
Futuristic proposal
Making the work experience more individual
Easy to tackle tasks
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

15. The Ascendancy of Modernism
Harry Bertola, wire chair for Knoll associates – 1952
Welded steel wire
Larsen Design Studio New York – 1996
Strong patterns in a jacquard fabric on the curving wall and a pattern of rings in the carpet
History of Interior Design Sofia Sebastian