Point : explorations

When we talked about these places working like machines, I thought to myself, that could have never been put more perfectly. I like all of the different relationships of machines. The fact that technology is constantly coming up with new, advanced ideas for machines.

The Explorations unit is by all means the most expressive and fast paced section of history that eventually reflects the lifestyles we live now where design has become disposable and lazy, much like everything else in our society. But at the turn of the 20th century, design was striving to break free from the classical mold that seemed impossibly glued to every structure in some form or fashion. Instead of remaining complacent with the same architectural idioms of the past, designers were turning to the arts as a way of giving the mundane uniformity of architecture a face-lift.
Leading the conversation in modernism was the Bauhaus school of Germany. Founded by Walter Gropius this school of thought challenged what it meant to be modern. Bauhaus meaning international style sought out a form of architecture that could speak a similar language no matter where on the earths surface the structure sat. With a reduction of surface decoration Bauhaus architects allowed the form to serve as both structure as well as ornamentation, occasionally using primary colors such as red blue and yellow to create a balance or harmony in a space. From the Bauhaus school arose the architect and product designer Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. His famous words “less is more” captures the spirit of “modern” architecture at the time. These words came to fruition in his design of the Farnsworth house of Plano Illinois.

The idea of machine was fully embraced members of the faculty like Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe,Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. The idea of modern was now an act of paying close attention to detail and knowing how to simplify something so that it still gives a strong presence

The foundation of it all has changed from being focused on humans to just being focused on the aesthetics. There is no substance in design anymore, there is only surface. It is as if the origins of it all has not been able to be traced back on current design. I believe that throughout this whole time, there has been a lot of give and take between who the design is for, but ultimately an expression on the culture of the time, whether looking backwards or forwards.