Art Deco yes or no?

[Hill Wimp]

Better? More to your taste, and mine, but I wouldn't say better. I love the idea of Arts & Crafts, and it's sort-of what I am doing in my house, with almost everything individually designed and hand-made for the house. However, rather than being what it set out to be, (mediaeval architecture and craft replicated in the modern era) it became a style of its own, and was taken over by half a dozen fashionable designers and theoreticians, and in particular William Morris. Like every architectural fashion it developed its own "language" (ie sets of rules), and these became obsolete when superseded by the next in thing.

The in thing at the moment is box-stacking, with preferably the bottom box being solid looking, either concrete or masonry, and the upper levels projecting in various ways outside the footprint of the lower, and clad in vertical timber boards or zinc. This is getting tired and tiresome, and you won't catch me doing any (I'm an architect).

I think it's really sad that many people don't feel confident to be themselves and identify their own style however mismatched other may think it is.

I know a couple of people that have spent literally thousands following trends with their houses. One decorates the whole house almost yearly and the other moves house about the same time. Each time she moves her house gets done up in the latest designs.

I live in a house built in 2014 with furniture and decor from all different eras. I miss my previous older houses a lot but If my style is going to upset any visitors that much then don't come visiting.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Better? More to your taste, and mine, but I wouldn't say better. I love the idea of Arts & Crafts, and it's sort-of what I am doing in my house, with almost everything individually designed and hand-made for the house. However, rather than being what it set out to be, (mediaeval architecture and craft replicated in the modern era) it became a style of its own, and was taken over by half a dozen fashionable designers and theoreticians, and in particular William Morris. Like every architectural fashion it developed its own "language" (ie sets of rules), and these became obsolete when superseded by the next in thing.

The in thing at the moment is box-stacking, with preferably the bottom box being solid looking, either concrete or masonry, and the upper levels projecting in various ways outside the footprint of the lower, and clad in vertical timber boards or zinc. This is getting tired and tiresome, and you won't catch me doing any (I'm an architect).

What would you, as an architect like to see?

 

[Fnaar]

I love a bit of art deco.

 

[User482]

Even my beloved Morecambe has a classic Art Deco building...Midland Hotel

View attachment 346047

Fell into disrepair and was then renovated by Urban Splash who did a lot of the regeneration development in Manchester

I do rather like the Art Deco style but wouldn't have any of it in my house as it would look out of place

I stayed there last year, and very nice it was too: take a seafront room and you can sit on the balcony watching the sun set over the bay. There is an interesting story behind the Eric Gill mural in the reception area: despite weighing several tonnes, it was stolen and subsequently recovered following intelligence work by Interpol.

 

[MikeG]

What would you, as an architect like to see?

I'd like to think that people were guided by good architects to have higher expectation than simply following the current fashion. Too many people are mis-guided by Grand Designs into thinking that one box on top of another is the pinnacle of current architecture.

 

[raleighnut]

Better? More to your taste, and mine, but I wouldn't say better. I love the idea of Arts & Crafts, and it's sort-of what I am doing in my house, with almost everything individually designed and hand-made for the house. However, rather than being what it set out to be, (mediaeval architecture and craft replicated in the modern era) it became a style of its own, and was taken over by half a dozen fashionable designers and theoreticians, and in particular William Morris. Like every architectural fashion it developed its own "language" (ie sets of rules), and these became obsolete when superseded by the next in thing.

The in thing at the moment is box-stacking, with preferably the bottom box being solid looking, either concrete or masonry, and the upper levels projecting in various ways outside the footprint of the lower, and clad in vertical timber boards or zinc. This is getting tired and tiresome, and you won't catch me doing any (I'm an architect).

I was influenced by the furniture of Edward Gimson, when I did my 'City & Guilds' as a Cabinet Maker (2yr full-time course) originally meant as a way of learning woodworking skills to become a furniture 'restorer'. That went out of the window when it became apparent that whilst people did want things 'restored' they weren't prepared to pay for the work involved.
The course involved a design element (with a GCSE chucked in as a bonus) and my lecturers suggested we went to view an 'End of Course' show by degree level 'Furniture Design' students at DeMontfort University. After we'd been I and a couple other of the more 'mature students' on the course looked at each other in disbelief as their 'pieces' were nowhere near as 'good' as the stuff we were designing (and constructing) so we asked the chief lecturer (and head of department) why. His reply was "Well you're looking at how something can be made and how it will function when looking at things whereas they're judged more on producing a portfolio that looks 'professional' than actually designing something that 'works' and is well-made"

Sums it up really.

 

[Hill Wimp]

[QUOTE 4752878, member: 45"]This is our local Cinema. Open in 1912, the first event there was a fundraiser for Titanic survivors. A bomb exploded over the road during WWII, killing a soldier standing on the cinema steps -you can still see the bomb damage in the stonework.

It's gone into receivership a couple of times and is now a community enterprise. The team are committed to restoring it properly. The original roof and balcony are still there above the suspended ceiling, and the boxes will be reopened. It's beautiful, in a weird spooky way.

View attachment 346069
View attachment 346070
View attachment 346071 [/QUOTE]
Beautiful.

My local town are attempting to wrangle one of our old cinemas from the hands of the developers. I hope they are as successful.

 

[Hill Wimp]

I was influenced by the furniture of Edward Gimson, when I did my 'City & Guilds' as a Cabinet Maker (2yr full-time course) originally meant as a way of learning woodworking skills to become a furniture 'restorer'. That went out of the window when it became apparent that whilst people did want things 'restored' they weren't prepared to pay for the work involved.
The course involved a design element (with a GCSE chucked in as a bonus) and my lecturers suggested we went to view an 'End of Course' show by degree level 'Furniture Design' students at DeMontfort University. After we'd been I and a couple other of the more 'mature students' on the course looked at each other in disbelief as their 'pieces' were nowhere near as 'good' as the stuff we were designing (and constructing) so we asked the chief lecturer (and head of department) why. His reply was "Well you're looking at how something can be made and how it will function when looking at things whereas they're judged more on producing a portfolio that looks 'professional' than actually designing something that 'works' and is well-made"

Sums it up really.

Mr Gimson of the ladder back rush chairs. I love their simplicity.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd like to think that people were guided by good architects to have higher expectation than simply following the current fashion. Too many people are mis-guided by Grand Designs into thinking that one box on top of another is the pinnacle of current architecture.

Strangely this is Kevins favourite 'Grand Design'

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...848933&usg=AFQjCNFfc778wBsfO3Gy3D9DY0c-vpICKg

 

[Hill Wimp]

Strangely this is Kevins favourite 'Grand Design'

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj6vcrAx5LTAhULKsAKHUWjChMQuAIILjAC&url=https://vimeo.com/28848933&usg=AFQjCNFfc778wBsfO3Gy3D9DY0c-vpICKg

That's mine too. I used to live very close to that cottage.

 

[AndyRM]

That's mine too. I used to live very close to that cottage.

Was mine for a while, until that cave one from the most recent series!

https://www.therockhouseretreat.co.uk/

 

[MarkF]

You were too quick for me Foodie! How about this?
View attachment 346016

Gimme a shout when you decide to sell the flying ducks.

 

[subaqua]

The hoover building is on the A40 not the great west rd.... it is a lovely building.

Tecton were pioneers , the Spa Green Estate designed by Lubetkin is stunningly good as is most of the stuff that Finsbury went for.

 

[Cycleops]

The film, yes, that poster, not really.

It is odd isn't it? Maybe an attempt to 'sex it up'.

 

[Cuchilo]

. My view is that there is a reason art deco only lasted 20 years.

That would be a massive great big world war called WW2