Jennifer Polidano 361795M

Lecture 2 Selected Text Summaries

Modern Furniture Decorated according to Nature
by Emile Galle, 1900

Galle opens the text by stating his love for flowers, which he inherited from his
father who produced crystal and chinaware, decorated with motifs of leaves
and flowers. His fathers use of the natural forms of flowers and leaves
inspired his molding technique when using glass and clay.
The author states that he also uses natural forms when designing furniture
and continues to explain that he always aims to give his pieces a sense of
character and feeling.
Galle asks the question what is modern furniture? and answers it simply by
saying that modern furniture is invented by the living generation, made to be
used, and decorated to please. He then elaborates on this statement by
explaining that modern furniture being invented by the living generation
means that it reflects the ideas and needs of the time. Modern furniture must
be designed first for its intended use, with attention to aesthetics being made
secondary to this.
Galle continues to set three principles for all design:
(a) The design must fulfill its intended function completely
(b) The materials to be used must be taken into careful consideration
during the design process
(c) The design must not include any decoration that is not necessary.
Galle concludes by writing that the realized ideal for modern furniture is
furniture decorated in harmony with its structure that is tactful, durable and
beautiful.

AUD 1201

Jennifer Polidano 361795M

The Role of the Engineer in Modern Architecture

by Henry Van de Velde, 1901

Van de Velde opens this text by introducing engineers as a new class of
artists that have emerged with advances in technology. He states that the
fundamental principles followed by engineers are reason and calculation,
which can result in the purest and most certain beauty.
The author reasons that it does not make sense that certain people refuse to
call engineers artists as they design for the same reasons buildings with the
same purpose as architects but use different materials. He continues to state
that engineers have made possible many new and beautiful designs and
ideas yet few people have actually acknowledged this.
This text is based on the same idea as the previous text by Emille Galle, that
an objects ability to completely fulfill its function in the most efficient way
possible is also what will make it beautiful aesthetically and that it is wrong to
consider anything other than a designs function during the initial stages of
design. The text also speaks of the idea that the raw materials used to design
an object are beautiful in their own right and therefore need not be
excessively manipulated for the sake of appearance.
The author, Van de Velde, concludes the text by stating that once people can
properly appreciate the work of engineers, their respect for architects will
begin to decrease as they realize that engineers now play a much greater role
in our lives.

AUD 1201

Jennifer Polidano 361795M

The Architect
by Hans Poelzig, 1931

This text is about the renewal of the role of architecture. 1931 was a time of
great architectural and structural development, when aesthetical boundaries
were being tested and buildings were being built higher. Thus the role of the
architect was both increasing and changing.
The old Gothic and Baroque styles of architecture were being abandoned in
favour of a new industrial style of building. This new industrial style aimed to
build simply for functional purposes, making use of basic shapes and
geometry, with little decoration. This way of building showed a different kind of
beauty than older styles. While older styles aimed to convey beauty through
conveying a message or feeling, this modern style aimed to show the beauty
of simple shapes and new raw materials. This style also drew attention and
appreciation to the skill of the engineer.
Poelzig introduces another element that influences architecture, which has not
been mentioned in the previous texts, economics. While technology advanced
during the early 20th century, the economy fell on hard times during the
interwar period in which this text was written. Although more variety of raw
materials was available, it came at a cost, and thus it was important to ensure
the efficiency of material use.

AUD 1201