Organic design

What is organic design? What is organic design? Organic design, like organic architecture, is based on the philosophy of bringing people closer to nature and creating a harmonious relationship between people, nature and objects. In this sense, it is descended from what might be considered "intuitive" design, as opposed to the rationalist design advocated by the Bauhaus School in the 1920s. The precursor of organic design was the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), who built no fewer than 500 buildings over the course of his career. Ahead of his time, Frank Lloyd Wright popularised the "prairie" style and later a new type of house, the "Usonian" house. His aim was to integrate the dwelling into its natural environment, a clear break with classical European architecture. The quintessence of the organic style, the famous Maison sur la Cascade (1936-1939), built for businessman Edgar J. Kaufmann, is an architectural achievement in perfect symbiosis with nature and its elements. The house on the waterfall (Fallingwater), Mill Run (Pennsylvania), 1936-1939. The architect chose to place the house above the waterfall so that its inhabitants could "live" connected to the natural element. The house on the waterfall (Fallingwater), Mill Run (Pennsylvania), 1936-1939. The architect chose to place the house above the waterfall so that its inhabitants could "live" connected to the natural element. The house on the waterfall (Fallingwater), Mill Run (Pennsylvania), 1936-1939. The architect chose to place the house above the waterfall so that its inhabitants could "live" connected to the natural element. The House on the Waterfall 1936-1939. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. When architecture integrates with the landscape and its elements. The House on the Waterfall 1936-1939. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. When architecture integrates with the landscape and its elements. The House on the Waterfall 1936-1939. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. When architecture integrates with the landscape and its elements. Before really "taking off" in the 1950s and achieving international success, organic design had its roots in Scandinavia, a country where people have an intimate understanding of nature and where craftsmanship, particularly in wood, is a deeply rooted tradition. Three Scandinavian designers epitomise organic design: Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) the Finn, Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) the Dane, and Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) the American of Finnish origin. From the 1930s onwards, Alvar Aalto wanted to move away from the overly 'cold' and rigorous design of the Bauhaus. After establishing himself as a remarkable architect, in 1935 he founded the company Artek with his first wife, Aino Marsio, and developed his taste for organic forms. Such is the case with the world-famous Savoy vase or Aalto vase from 1936. The sinuous contours of Finnish lakes directly inspired the designer to create this piece. The name of the vase is also a nod to the designer, since "aalto" in Finnish means "the wave". Savoy vase, designed by Alvar Aalto, 1936. Savoy vase, Alvar Aalto design, 1936. Savoy vase, designed by Alvar Aalto, 1936. An aesthete at heart, Alvar Aalto rejected the rigid geometric forms inherited from the European avant-garde at the turn of the century, and was repulsed by the progressive use of metal tubes in furniture. At the same time, his near-compatriot Eero Saarinen, architect and designer, son of the architect Eliel Saarinen, one of Finland's leading architects who moved to the United States in 1923, was popularising Scandinavian organic design in the United States. Unlike European countries, the United States had little sympathy for the rational aesthetics of the Bauhaus, particularly under the impetus of the "Streamline" style put forward by Raymond Loewy ( link to design-market website ). Saarinen came to prominence in 1940 when he won a competition organised by MoMA entitled Organic Design Organic Design . With his colleague Charles Eames, an American designer who had already collaborated with Eero Saarinen's father, they won the prize in the chair design chair design category (as well as the living-room living-room category) with the famous Organic Chair Organic Chair , which has become an icon of the organic style and is now produced by Vitra. Organic Chair, 1940. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames. Publisher: Vitra Organic Chair, 1940. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames. Publisher: Vitra Organic Chair, 1940. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames. Publisher: Vitra The Organic Chair reading chair published by Vitra, in its Organic Highback version. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, 1940. The Organic Chair reading chair published by Vitra, in its Organic Highback version, an armchair version with a high back. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, 1940. The Organic Chair reading chair published by Vitra, in its Organic Highback version, an armchair version with a high back. Design by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, 1940. View of the Organic Design in Home Furnishings exhibition organised by MoMA in 1941 on the basis of the 1940 competition. The Organic Chair and the Organic Highback armchair can be seen in the foreground. View of the Organic Design in Home Furnishings exhibition organised by MoMA in 1941 on the basis of the 1940 competition. The Organic Chair and the Organic Highback armchair can be seen in the foreground. View of the Organic Design in Home Furnishings exhibition organised by MoMA in 1941 on the basis of the 1940 competition. In the foreground are the Organic Chair and the Organic Highback armchair. The Organic Chair Organic Chair and, even more so, its little sister, the Organic Highback Organic Highback, are a perfect definition of organic design: ample, supple forms that provide comfortable seating. In 1948, Charles Eames and his wife Ray Charles Eames and his wife Ray created another iconic piece of organic design, simply called La Chaise La Chaise . The seat, inspired by the sculpture Floating figure by the French-born American artist Gaston Lachaise, allows you to sit in different ways, from sitting to lying down. The Chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, 1948. Now published by Vitra. The Chair, Charles and Ray Eames design, 1948. Published today by Vitra. The Chair, Charles and Ray Eames design, 1948. Published today by Vitra. In the same vein as La Chaise La Chaise , the Eames went on to produce a large number of models using plastic, which have since become international design bestsellers, such as the DAR DAR , DAW DAW , or DAX DAX seating models in 1950. In 1952, Italian designer Arieto Bertoia (1915-1978), who became a naturalised American, designed another icon of organic design for furniture publisher Knoll: the Diamant la chaise Diamant or Diamond Chair. Diamond Chair, designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, 1952 Diamond Chair, designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, 1952 Diamond Chair, designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, 1952 The 1950s saw the triumph of Scandinavian design, which placed well-being and the human being at the heart of its concerns. Eero Saarinen and, above all, the Danish designer Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) definitively moved away from rigid geometric forms and practised an organic design that favoured curved, enveloping lines. Arne Jacobsen is often regarded as one of the fathers of organic design. Influenced at the start of his career by the "Streamline" style, he closely followed the work of Saarinen and Eames, before proposing his own vision of organic furniture in the early 1950s. The Fourmi Fourmi chair ( Myre Myre , model n°3100 model n°3100 ) is a great design classic. Distributed by Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen, this seat, as its name suggests, evokes the body of an ant with remarkable simplicity. The seat is made from a single sheet of plywood, which represents a technical feat. Black Ant chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1952. Black Ant Chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1952. Black Ant Chair, design by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1952. The organic Jacobsen style later became cosy and a perfect illustration of a concept that is unique to the Danes, Hygge Hygge , which in the Scandinavian spirit combines the qualities of a very special object, both soft and comfortable. In 1957-1958, Arne Jacobsen created the Cygne armchair ( Cygne, model n°3320 Cygne, model n°3320 ) then in 1958 the Œuf Œuf or Egg armchair. Egg armchair. Both pieces were designed to furnish the lobby and reception areas of the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Jacobsen designed simple, functional and elegant pieces using comfortable materials. A unique vision of organic design that made his reputation. Arne Jacobsen, Swan Armchair, 1957-1958 Arne Jacobsen, Swan Armchair, 1957-1958 Arne Jacobsen, Swan Armchair, 1957-1958 Arne Jacobsen, Egg Armchair, 1958. Arne Jacobsen, Egg armchair, 1958. Arne Jacobsen, Egg armchair, 1958. The Danish designer designed a range of furniture and seating for one of the rooms in the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, suite 606, including the Cygne Cygne and Egg Egg models. This room still exists, and is the only room in the hotel never to have been restored... Suite 506 at the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, with furniture and seating designed by Arne Jacobsen. Suite 506 at the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, with furniture and seating designed by Arne Jacobsen. Suite 506 at the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen with furniture and seating designed by Arne Jacobsen. written by François Boutard written by François Boutard

Read our other blogs too

Whoppah explores: Eames Lounge Chair

At home with Michael

Whoppah explores: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Whoppah explores: Frank Lloyd Wright