Mid-Century Modern. Our Founding Fathers

The Selvedge Yard

  The founding fathers of American Modernism.  These men are responsible for the 20th century's most iconic modernist furniture. From left to right:  George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames, and Jens (pronounced Yenn's) Risom.

  Now, let's focus on the guy on the table.  George Nelson. 

 

-"Most people think that George Nelson, Charles Eames and Eliot Noyes invented industrial design. That is, of course, an exaggeration. George did it without any assistance from the other two." -- Bill N. Lacy, FAIA

A defendant of modern principles, he argued against giving into commercial forces.  Awesome example:  His expression of opinion on the "office cubicle" in a letter to Robert Blaich, who had become Herman Miller's Vice-President for Corporate Design and Communication, in which he described the system's "dehumanizing effect as a working environment." He summed up his feeling by saying:

    "One does not have to be an especially perceptive critic to realize that AO II is definitely not a system which produces an environment gratifying for people in general. But it is admirable for planners looking for ways of cramming in a maximum number of bodies, for "employees" (as against individuals), for "personnel," corporate zombies, the walking dead, the silent majority. A large market."

Architecturally innovative because he didn't look at modern design as styles, but at the way problems needed to be solved.  He believed the work of a designer should be to better the world. In his view, nature was already perfect, but man ruined it by making things that didn't follow the rules of nature.  Ahead of his time, he was committed to the reduction of pollution, including ( I get a kick out of this one and in total agreement) visual and audio pollution.  He introduced the family room, the storage wall, and the outdoor mall (which was initially turned turned down!) among a long list of amazing furniture.