About Mid-Century Modern Architecture
The term Mid-Century Modern has become a way to loosely define the architecture of the period from the 1930’s to the late 1970’s. These definitions of the different styles help us categorize the structures of the period. Keep in mind, many homes and buildings will combine elements of many styles. In addition to Mid-Century Modern architecture, Modern architecture can be found throughout Gainesville and the surrounding areas.
These styles have evolved over time and include many different influences most notably the Bauhaus. Started by Walter Gropius, the German art school sought to combine craftsmanship with the individuality of artistic vision. This approach was applied to everyday objects and impacted the world of art, architecture, design and education. The push in the 1920’s toward mass production and the rise of new technologies shifted the focus toward combining the principles of art with industrial design.
With the rise of Nazism, the school was closed and its professors and students were scattered around the world. But their influence on architecture and its design are evident to this day. The focus on the theoretical aspects of design and art had the effect of elevating the practical arts of architecture and design to that of the fine arts. This has certainly helped give rise to the Starachitects of the last century including Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid.
Entire books have been written about the history and influences of these Architectural styles. The hope here is to introduce the different aspects of Modern Architecture and to foster a better understanding of what makes our homes and buildings, throughout Gainesville, from these periods unique.
