modern take on modernism
‘Stillness’ in Kent, built 1934, architect Gilbert Booth. Yours for £1,295,000*
I was delighted to read that the V&A is organising the first major exhibition devoted to Modernism. Entitled Modernism: Designing a New World 1914-1939, it will open on 6 April 2006 .
I used to detest the stark, cubic white houses I saw dotted around England and associated them with a spartan, unrealistic, over-hygienic philosophy of design and living. All that white exterior paint and masses of windows with thin, metal frames seemed to be the classic cleaning nightmare.
But these days I’ve become intrigued by the thinking behind the movement which put such strangely un-English houses in unlikely locations. I’ve come to admire the bravery and ruthlessness required to build, maintain and even live in one of these white boxes. I’m now also bowled over by the public buildings created by these ground-breaking architects and designers, such as the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea.
There’s still an element of repulsion in this attraction. I dislike the thought-control which lurks round the edges of 1930s Modernism, and the fact that it was created by, and for, a small coterie of well-off intellectuals whith some very strange ideas. Nevertheless, I’d jump at the chance to live in one of the finer Modernist houses to see if it really would change my way of life. Or whether I’d crack under the pressure of window-cleaning.
As with any major design movement, the Modernists held firm views about what was on show on the inside as well. There was a brief flourish of Modernist textile design with some wonderful fabrics and rugs in particular by designers such as Eileen Gray and George F Ainscow plus iconic furniture by Alvar Aalto. But what struck me when reading in last Sunday’s Observer about the exhibition was the view that ‘objects should at least be made to look like machines, or made by machines, even if they were actually the product of laborious handcraft’.
Now this is a complex inversion of the William Morris/Arts & Crafts thinking. My first reaction was horror. Why on earth would anyone want to hide the fact that something is handmade? The whole crafting & blogging community appears surely to be devoted to a celebration of the obviously handmade. And then I thought about the perfectionists amongst us. The hand-embroiderers whose amazing skills make their work look as if it’s been done by a machine. The quilters who cannot bear to have any faulty joins or crappy corners. The knitters whose intarsia work doesn’t fall apart to reveal gaping holes and twisted yarns. Don’t their creations deserve as much praise as the deliberately (or accidentally) naive pieces made by crafters with a different understanding of the meaning of handmade?
So I’ll go to the exhibition with an open mind, try to work out what’s machine-made and what’s hand-made and be grateful that we can make so many choices. Because it’s the being told how you must do things that’s wrong with any quasi-fascist design movement, not the fact that a handmade piece may look as if it’s been done by machine. That’s a personal decision and, as such, should be treated with respect.
*if you want to daydream about buying a house like this, take a look at themodernhouse.co.uk
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:01 pm
If you could afford one of these houses, you wouldn’t have to worry about doing the windows yourself. I love the look of them, but I don’t know how long I could survive in one.
February 3rd, 2006 at 9:33 pm
wonderful post! i really enjoyed it. i hope there will be more topics that venture a little outside of craft.
February 3rd, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Very interesting point of view.
I came across this blog by chance. Awesome collaboration. Will be back to check you guys (ladies) out again. Congrats!
February 3rd, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Great read! And I just knew it was yours without even looking. Thanks for all your inspiration on so many levels. TH
February 3rd, 2006 at 11:05 pm
Great read! And I just knew it was yours without even looking. Thanks for all your inspiration on so many levels. TH
February 4th, 2006 at 12:09 am
I have to say that I love these modernist buildings. I live in a 1960s bungalow which I also adore.
But if I won the lottery, I’d move tomorrow!
February 4th, 2006 at 1:20 am
Here in the Potteries, the whole industry is built on the idea of obliterating all evidence of the human hand crafting the work. And yet, there are so many different skills from so many different individuals involved in making a simple tea set.
It’s interesting (and sad) that we value that industrial perfection more, even now; and that as a result the skills are dying out in this country as we instead purchase cheaper imports made with more sophisticated technology and fewer people.
February 5th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I must say that house reminds me of looking through mangroves to see a ship. After living around ships for a good long while, the look of this house makes more sense and is more homey.
I’m sure it’s an accidental effect.
February 5th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
what a great read! I’m sitting here with a cup of tea on a Sunday morning feeling so inspired and well, enlightened!
February 6th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Yes, those windows - Why do you think I’m selling it Jane ?
February 6th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
It´s really a great read. I agree, that most people are wanting machine made things, because they are perfect, made in a minute and mostly cheaper. And it´s so sad, that nowadays handcrafting things are not very popular anymore. I mean handcrafting like knitting and sewing and embroidering. If we buy a table from a joiner, we are willing to pay a lot of money, because it´s handmade - but are we willing to pay the same lot of money for a handknitted blanket, even it has some wrong stitches in it? And why are so many handcrafters perfectionists - is it our own ambition or because of appreciation and the compliment “this sweater doesn´t look handknitted!”.
You gave me many stimulations to think about my own intentions and attitudes - thank you very much!
February 7th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
I love this house and style of architecture. I think it encompasses the range of design movements that I love best, from late Arts and Crafts, Art Deco to Scandinavian and North American Mid-Century Modern. I’m not sure about the wisdom of flat roofs in England but I think that all the windows would result in nice and naturally lit interiors. Sadly there aren’t many of these houses where we live. There are a depressingly large number of faux old new build developments, my least favourite type of house.
February 8th, 2006 at 7:46 am
Funny how an ocean between us made the modernism movement so different… it struck our shores in a large way a bit later than in Europe (really started appearing en masse in mid- late-1940s), but was largely practiced by Europeans coming to America for something different. As a result, modernism in America was mroe about hope, rebuilding, and the future in an optimistic, post-war society. Although we certainly have our share of stark, minimal, white boxes, much of what I love about modernism in the US (especially in the west) is the warmth of design, the connection with the outdoors, and the relaxed lifestyle. Perhaps a visit to my humble abode (a modern ranch built in 1957) might alter your perspective a bit… I’ll bake the cupcakes!