Mid-Century Modern Homes That Shaped the Future of Architecture Design (2024)

FAQs

What influenced mid-century modern architecture? ›

Influenced by the optimism of the post-World War II boom and by the exploration of a range of materials, including steel, concrete, and newly available insulated glass, the mainstays of midcentury-modern architecture remain appealing to this day.

Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the late 1950s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the international style advocated by Philip Johnson and Henry-Russell Hitchco*ck.

A midcentury modern house plan is characterized by a very wide, low footprint with large, open spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an emphasis on bringing the outdoors in. Although midcentury modern architecture boomed all across America from 1945 to 1969, it's seen a major resurgence in recent years.

Midcentury pieces are simply well-designed objects, with a timeless look, says Sotheby's Holdeman. "[Midcentury modern designs] sit very well in contemporary homes and interiors—they still feel fresh today, they still feel modern. A lot of those pieces haven't been bettered. They still stand the test of time."

Mid-century modern (MCM) is a movement in interior design, product design, graphic design, architecture and urban development that was popular in the United States and Europe from roughly 1945 to 1970 during the United States's post-World War II period.

Elements of mid-century modern interior design include clean lines, muted tones, a combination of natural and manmade materials, graphic shapes, vibrant colors, and integrating indoor and outdoor motifs.

The Core Differences

Mid-century modern is more refined, with allowances for some flashy decor and artwork. This is something that traditional modern design wouldn't use.

Mid-Century Modern Characteristics:

Clean lines – curves and straight with no elaborate details. Man-made materials – metal, glass, plastic and fiberglass. Rich wood tones – Teak and rosewood. Solid colours – no motifs, florals and no small printed patterns.

Midcentury modern is a design style that arrived in the mid-20th century. Defined by simple, functional, and wooden furniture, midcentury modern still remains a popular interior design choice today.

What the heck is mid-century modern? ›

Midcentury modern style (also referred to as midmod and MCM) flourished during the mid-20th century when newly affluent post-War families began expanding into America's suburbs. “Midcentury homes are characterized by minimal fuss and ornamentation, along with sleek lines juxtaposed by organic shapes.

At its most basic level, midcentury modern designs are known for juxtaposing sleek lines (think: skinny, peg legs on dressers and tables) with organic shapes, using new materials and methods to reimagine traditional pieces. The looks were futuristic, but they weren't a total departure from the past.

A mid-century modern home is clutter-free and is more focused on large pieces of furniture as opposed to small ornamental pieces. Vintage pieces like an antique coffee table, etc. are used to add character to rooms and plants and organic forms are used to create the desired ambiance.

Mid-century modern design is known for its emphasis on open floor plans, large windows that bring in natural light and the use of materials such as wood, glass and steel.

Pursuing order and universals in architecture, modernism utilized new materials and advanced technology and rejected old, traditional, historical ideas and styles, and ornamentation. Modernism emphasized function, simplicity, and rationality, and created new forms of expression with a new aesthetic.

Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier were the pioneers of the movement, with the latter having a profound impact on the design of many public housing schemes in Britain.

Art Deco Hardware and Modern Design:

The style's focus on clean lines, geometric shapes, and symmetry has become a staple of contemporary design. Art Deco hardware is often employed in mid-century modern design, where it's used to create a sleek, sophisticated look.

Modern architecture was based upon new and innovative technologies of construction (particularly the use of glass, steel, and concrete); the principle functionalism (i.e. that form should follow function); an embrace of minimalism; and a rejection of ornament.