The Defining Features of Modern Design and Architecture
What is Modern Design? Let the Architects Tell You!
When it comes to modern design and architecture, people often get confused about what modern means. To some, modern calls to mind clean minimalist lines, glass, and concrete. At the same time, modern embodies bold geometric shapes and bright colors to others. In contrast, some people may use the word modern simply to describe a space as being updated. Our Austin, Texas architects recount the history of Modernist architecture, explain the differences between modern and contemporary design, and define the features of a modern-style home. Let’s finally settle on what modern design really is.
History of Modernist Design and Architecture
Modern or Modernist design is an architectural style prominent from 1945 to 1969, also earning it the name of mid-century modern. This design style utilized new technologies of the era, such as glass, steel, and concrete, to build airy structures that embraced minimalism, function, and connections to the outdoors. Modern architecture is rooted in the Modernist movement, which took inspiration from Scandinavian and Bauhaus design. These design styles’ influence can be seen in the clean lines, simple color schemes, and functional forms of many modern buildings. Prominent architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Donald Wexler led the movement, creating American homes with iconic features like butterfly rooflines, clerestory windows, and post and beam construction. After World War II, American families began the move to the suburbs, where mid-century modern homes offered a new take on family life and a fresh start. Unlike old city row houses and apartments, Modernist homes offered bright natural light, open-concept living spaces, and indoor-outdoor connections, which remain popular today.
What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Architecture?
Homeowners often ask our Austin, Texas architects if modern and contemporary architecture are the same style. Modern and contemporary are often used interchangeably. They contain shared elements such as clean lines, open spaces, and minimalism in favor of detailed ornamentation. However, the two styles are distinctly different. Modern architecture is rooted in the Modernist movement, which occurred during the mid-1900s, making it tied to a specific point in time. Modern architecture is actually vintage! On the other hand, contemporary architecture is constantly evolving with the here and now, breaking boundaries and using new technologies and design trends. When we’re designing in our Austin, Texas architecture studio, we look to the future for planning contemporary homes and reflect on the past for creating modern designs.
The Elements of Modernist Design and Architecture
Modern architecture is defined by key architectural elements that were able to be constructed for the first time, thanks to new building technologies of the era. Many mid-century homes will contain more than one of these Modernist design features. Some of these design elements are still popular today and regularly requested by our Austin architecture clients.
Unique Rooflines
Mid-century homes are often easy to spot because they have unique rooflines associated with the period. These rooflines include:
● Asymmetrical Gable - This roofline has two sloping planes that peak; one slope will be longer than the other.
● Butterfly - This roofline features two gables that dip in the middle, creating a slope that resembles a butterfly wingspan.
● Single Slope - This flat roofline will consist of a single slope spanning from a taller vertical wall to a shorter vertical wall on the other side of the home.
● Folded Plate - This roofline consists of V-shaped slopes attached to create a zigzag pattern.
Exposed Wood Soffits
Unique Modernist rooflines are typically accentuated with exposed wood soffits. In some designs, soffits would tie into interior beams, connecting the home’s exterior and interior spaces.
Post and Beam Construction
Thanks to new building technologies, like steel, mid-century homes were designed using post and beam construction to support the roof. This allowed for fewer interior and exterior walls, giving way to open-concept floor plans and more windows.
Clerestory Windows
Clerestory windows are located at the top of a wall immediately below the roof plane, allowing for natural light while maintaining privacy. They also highlight the home’s construction, allowing you to see a beam span from the interior to the exterior, furthering a sense of connection to the outdoors.
Full Height Glass
Thanks to modern building technologies, full-height expanses of glass could be used for the first time in Modernist architecture. Large glass windows flooded interior spaces with light and allowed for beautiful views.
Linear Forms
Modern architecture celebrates clean lines and linear forms, avoiding elements like curved walls, bay windows, or unusual angles.
Mix of Natural and Man-made Elements
Mid-century architecture experimented with new building materials like concrete, metal, and glass, but it stayed rooted in natural connections. Natural elements like stacked stone fireplaces and wood paneling were commonly seen alongside man-made materials.
Earth Tone Color Palettes
Popular colors used during the Modernist period took inspiration from nature, including shades like rust, avocado green, brown, and turquoise.
Terrazzo Flooring
Terrazzo beautifully blends natural materials with modern processes. Terrazzo flooring is a composite material that contains chips of stone that are poured with a binder to create stunning slabs for a continuous look.
Indoor-outdoor Connections
Modern design emphasizes indoor-outdoor connections, which can be seen through the use of natural materials, large windows, and sliding glass doors that open onto expansive patios and courtyards.
Breezeblocks
Breezeblocks are decorative cast blocks that allow air and light to pass through while maintaining a sense of privacy. They were typically used in front courtyards, expanding the usable exterior space of the home.
Why is Mid-century Modern Design and Architecture Still Popular Today?
Even though the modern architecture style is over 50 years old, this vintage look is still popular with many homeowners today. Mid-century modern architecture continues to be preserved and recreated because it fits many families’ function-forward lifestyles, featuring open-concept spaces, clean lines, lots of natural light, indoor-outdoor connections, easy flow for entertaining, and simplified living.