modernism Archives - Cimmermann

Brazil – Modernism

Its not only Football Brazil has to offer

We love the World Cup (well one member of Cimmermann) but it s not only football Brazil excels in. Their modernist architecture is stunning, see some of our favourites –

Paraty House’s two reinforced concrete boxes, sit atop each other, connected on the mountainside of one of the islands of the colonial city of Paraty and Angra dos Reis (between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), like two modern prisms between the large colossal stones of the Brazilian coast. The building projects outward from the mountain, almost onto the beach, in an 8m cantilever. The house finds balance in the topography of the land, creating an extensive open doorway and living space in the practically untouched nature. Paraty House features a furniture collection showcasing 20thcentury design, including works by many well-known artists.

Brazil - Paraty House — Paraty House located between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Paraty House in Brazil — Paraty House – what a beautiful setting, it is reached by boat

Below is a selection of Modernist masterpieces.

Outdoors merges with indoors, Tom Dixon Fat Spot light always a welcome edition

Glass!!! Nice office chairs Eames Soft Pad by Vitra

Brazil’s most famous architect is Oscar Niemeyer, who is considered to be one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture. Niemeyer was best known for his design of civic buildings for Brasília, a planned city that became Brazil’s capital in 1960.

Oscar Niemeyer - the master — Oscar Niemeyer – contemporary Art museum in Brasilia

BG6TAT Alvorada palace, Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer — The Palácio do Planalto, the seat of the Brazilian Government, in Brasilia opened in 1960

Claudio Santoro National Theatre in Brasilia

Hope you liked our alternative look at Brazil with its amazing Architecture and for all the World Cup fans – Come On England!!!!

The Team At Cimmermann

Credits:

http://www.trendir.com/house-design/tag/brazil-houses

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/9727010/Oscar-Niemeyer-buildings-around-the-world.html?frame=2420134

http://vrooomb-way.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/tropical-modernism-in-brazil.html

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/

Jens Risom

Mid-Century Master

Jens Risom, who was born in Copenhagen in 1916, describes himself as a Danish-born, American designer, not a Danish designer. His father Sven Risom was an award-winning architect and Risom says he lived with wonderful design for years before he “really got into it professionally.”
He attended the School for Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen where he became close to Hans Wegner, one of the few designers whose furniture he has in his own home. He trained under Kaare Klint, the principal founder of the furniture school at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. In 1938, he left for the United States where he thought he’d have a better chance of making a name for himself. One of the first designers to bring the traditional Scandinavian values of function and craftsmanship to the United States, Risom was part of a new vanguard that helped establish post-war America’s leadership role in the world of modern furniture design and manufacturing.

At ninety-four years of age Jens Risom collaborated with Rocket and Benchmark, who jointly secured the European rights to reissue his 1950s and 1960s furniture designs.

This first collection of nine pieces has been creatively directed by Jonathan Stephenson of Rocket and made by Sean Sutcliffe and Terence Conran’s Benchmark Furniture company in their Dorset and Berkshire workshops – with the close involvement of Risom himself. These pieces are available in oak and walnut versions and are upholstered in a variety of Kvadrat fabrics and Elmo leathers. Some of the stunning range can be seen below.

Jens Risom - Desk and Chair — T742 Desk & Chair in stunning orange leather

T742 Desk by Rocket — Incredible detail and finish of the T742 Desk drawer

Jens Risom - U430 Chair — U430 Chair is a stunning piece of mid-century design

U430 Chair by Rocket — Detail of the U430 chair finished in oak

walnut detailed arms on the U430 Chair by Risom

Jens Risom Furniture — U620 Bench in a variety of colours

The T742 Desk is our favourite, the leather top with the internal drawer is design genius.

We are pleased to be one of the exclusive stockists of Rocket / Risom furniture – we hope you love it as much as we do!

The Team at Cimmermann

Credits

http://midcenturymodernist.com/2010/furniture-objects/designers-makers/risom-reborn/

Modernist Homes in the UK – the best

Good quality Modernist houses in the UK are not always as accessible as some of their Victorian or Edwardian counterparts. Modernist living is a way of live offering a clean, uncluttered and bright lifestyle.

We have noted some of the most notable and outstanding examples of Modernist living this country has to offer –

Homewood

This extraordinary early 20th-century country villa is a masterpiece of Modernist design, in the midst of a picturesque woodland garden not far from Esher in Surrey. It was designed by the architect Patrick Gwynne for his family – his father, mother, sister and himself – and completed in the early summer of 1938. Gwynne lived in the house for the rest of his life, continuing to keep the building fashionably up-to-date until his death in 2003. His friend, the architect Sir Denys Lasdun, observed that The Homewood was ‘the great love of Patrick’s life’. Homewood is now in the hands of the National trust.

The Modernist Homewood from the beautiful gardens — Homewood from the beautiful gardens

Stunning interior with great views from Homewood

Farnley Hey

Farnley Hey is one of Britain’s most celebrated Modernist houses. This four-bedroom home with spectacular views over the Pennines was designed by the architect Peter Womersley in 1954 as a wedding present to his brother. Maintained in remarkably original condition, it is a magnificent example of Mid-Century Modern architecture. It was one of the first post-war buildings to be listed (Grade II), with English Heritage commenting that:

“In style Farnley Hey suggests the influence of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, brought to a dramatic site in the Pennines. It typifies the best of the 1950s in its lightness, sense of the picturesque and optimistic stance.”

Farnley Hey is much documented in books and journals, with attention drawn to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that bring light flooding into the house as well as giving wonderful far-reaching views. Also much admired is Womersley’s exuberant use of materials – from camphorwood and York-stone flags for flooring to the lemon-yellow Formica panels.

Interior of Farnley Hey - glass windows mean lots of light — Interior of Farnley Hey – glass windows mean lots of light

2 Willow Road

This unique Modernist home was designed by architect Ernö Goldfinger in 1939 for himself and his family. With surprising design details that were ground-breaking at the time and still feel fresh today, the house also contains the Goldfingers’ impressive collection of modern art, intriguing personal possessions and innovative furniture. A stunning house that epitomises the Modernist style. Willow Road is now owned and managed by the National Trust.

The amazing facade of Willow Road designed by Erno Goldfinger

Barbican Estate

The Barbican Estate is a residential estate designed by Chamberlin Powell & Bon and was built during the 1960s and the 1970s in the City of London in an area once devastated by World War II bombings. It contains, or is adjacent to, the Barbican Arts Centre. Not for everyone this concrete masterpiece is on a monstrous scale and sums up Brutalist Architecture. The residential estate consists of 3 tower blocks, 13 terrace blocks, 2 mews and The Postern, Wallside and Milton Court. It was given Grade II listed status in 2001. The apartments in the Barbican are extremely desirable and demand extremely high prices.

Barbican internal gardens and water features, concrete living within an oasis of calm — Barbican internal gardens and water features offer an oasis of calm amongst all the concrete

Cool interior of a Barbican apartment courtesy of the Modern house - http://www.themodernhouse.net/sales-list/barbican-london-ec2y/description-817/ — Cool interior of a Barbican apartment courtesy of the Modern house – http://www.themodernhouse.net/sales-list/barbican-london-ec2y/description-817/

Barbican in the Summer Sun looks stunning

Barbican sign - iconic font — Barbican sign – iconic font

Span Housing

Span Developments was a development company formed in 1957 by architect Eric Lyons and property developers Geoffrey Townsend and Leslie Bilsby. According to early promotional literature, the name was derived from the intention ‘to span the gap between the suburban monotony of the typical speculative development and the architecturally designed, individually built residence that has become (for all but a few) financially unattainable’. Span was seeking to bring modern architecture to middle class, middle income people, at a time when in Britain at least, modern architecture was either for large council estates or one-off houses for the very wealthy. Span houses can be said to be ‘modern’ in their use of new construction techniques and features such as open plan interiors, large windows and flat roofs. However, the use of materials such as brick, tile-hung walls and timber panelling show the intention to create housing more in keeping with the context and traditions of the English suburbs.

Span focused on building small estates in leafy surroundings on the suburban outskirts of cities. Span encountered many problems with planners, however, Lyon’s determination to defy the planners eventually won through, and he was rewarded with around 20 housing medals from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. But it’s the continued success of these developments into the 21st century that is the true testament to Span’s vision for modern housing.