Modern: Masters of the 20th-Century Interior by Jonathan Glancey
4to. pp. 176. profusely illustrated. directory. index. hardcover. dw. (fine condition). New York: Rizzoli, [1999].
ISBN-10: 0847822117 / ISBN-13: 9780847822119
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Modern, from the Latin word modo, meaning "right now," has been the In style of architecture for the greater part of the twentieth century. What unites the greatest creators (from Le Corbusier to Luis Barragan) is an eye focused on the future, streamlining design to remove the excessive ornamentation so popular in the past. In this respect, it is easy to see how the "right now" aesthetic could, ironically, span an entire century.
In "Modern," author Jonathan Glancey encapsulates the essence of the Modern by featuring the work of individuals and design firms that have shaped contemporary architectural style.
"Modern" is a catch-all phrase which, while delineating a common theme, does not express the distinct styles of the movements that went on within it. Glancey divides the book into ten headings, explaining each development in architecture and providing examples of the key figures who helped to form it. The chapters include: The Modern Movement, Organic, Neo-Classic, Mid-Century Modern, Pop, High-Tech, Neo-Baroque, Post-Modern, Minimal to New Modern, and Global.
Within each of these sections is a two-page spread featuring the design philosophy and brief profile, set against a major work by 58 different architects and firms including the Bauhaus, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Antoni Gaudi, Adolf Loos, Charles & Ray Eames, Swinging London, Norman Foster, Ettore Sottsass, and more.
"Modern" ventures beyond the interiors of lavish homes to showcase club and restaurant dcor, furniture product design, and textiles. This inclusive volume also displays the homes of the designers and architects themselves, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of these celebrated creators.
A virtual "Who's Who" of twentieth-century architect, "Modern" closes with a directory, providing information to contact all those featured in the book. This volume is a must for Modern aficionados.