Why furniture designs from the 50’s are still relevant ?
If you are not familiar with furniture design from the 50s, you must at least be familiar with the term mid century. A term overly used in order to boost sales for furniture manufacturers to bring the notoriety that is due to a few designers. For those who are familiar with this topic, I would be thrilled to start a discussion about it.
I won’t go into deep details of the why their popularity surged once again in the 80s, but I will give you an overall look on why I think they are still a pillar of modern interior design and why we love them so much.
Postwar
The post-war era ushered a new age when it came to design and architecture. Architects were now building houses inside out by letting the structure be visible and be an integral part of the actual design. This is a perfect example of the case study houses made by various architects including my two favourites, Charles and Ray Eames. I’m a sucker for these two designers so you will probably hear about them on another occasion.
Designers also had the opportunity to explore different shapes and colours, traditions didn’t hold them down any more. Thus giving them the opportunity to tap into a vast world of creative freedom. What also helped this movement, was a great appreciation for a modern approach by the people. But most of all it was the consumer culture that was the enabling factor to this new style which was known at the time as “contemporary”.
The Material Used
The materials used in their designs are also what makes them iconic. Plywood was definitely subject to many projects and for a good reason. Plywood was not new to the 1950s, as a matter of fact it has been around since ancient Egypt (2600 BC), but it wasn’t until the 1850s that we started using it on an industrial scale. Its use was also very popular during World War II, since it allowed to build complex structures for planes that were light and strong.
Therefore, designers like the Eames after the war decided to use this light and strong material in their design, such as the famous DCM (dining chair metal). Which went on to influence many of the modern designs for dining chairs.
Plywood remained the dominant material used in this decade. But who would I be if did not mention the other 3 most important? Fibre glass with epoxy was used in many designs due to its versatility, strength and unique visual texture. Glass and metal were also used in many designs that gave them a futuristic look.
Pop Culture & Nostalgia
Growing up in the early 2000s (yes, I’m young), my parents bombarded me with movies from the 80s and late 90s. They also could not stop talking about their youth in the 80s. It is known to everyone that the 80s were a nice era to grow up in, technology was getting better and better, social media was not a thing and long-distance communication was still a luxury.It was a time of adventure and carelessness, at least it feels that way to the people who didn’t get to grow up in that era. To be honest it does feel like we missed out on a good time, but the grass is always greener, right? Since the rebirth of 50sfurniture design in the 80’s and 90’s, they have been an integral part of the idea we have of that era.
“Even though we know, mid-century modern will never go out of style, we believe that the legacy of mid-century modern design is important because it is a testimony of an era in humanity where the form came together with the function, and where the design was stripped down to its essentials, something we might take for granted today, but it was a long and arduous journey to achieve.”
FFurniture designed in the 50s are still relevant because of their simple design and their iconic character. They also give a sense of legacy, since most furniture nowadays are made to be thrown away at some point. They have proven they can stand the test of time both from a physical aspect and a design aspect.
But most of all they represent an era of great change, which is still influencing us today.
