Protomodernism is the rejection of historical styles and ornamentation. This time really focused on experimenting with form and ideas. Otto Wagner was one designer who stuck out to me. He studied architecture at the Viennese Polytechnic Institute and the Royal School of Architecture in Berlin. He was from Austria and taught at the Vienna Academy. He was the professor of architecture at the academy. He was an architect, designer, urban planner and more. He believed in staunch functionalism. He had more of an industrial style. 

Something that Wagner believed was that design should display understanding and good choices in material. Materials should be available, workable, durable and economical. "Objects resulting from modern views … harmonize perfectly with our surroundings, but copied and imitated objects never do," which is something that Wagner said in one of his lectures. This shows that he truly believed that everything around us should be available and useful. 

In 1894, he was commissioned to design the stations of the underground railroad in Vienna. His first stations that he designed were much different than his later station designs. His early stations were conventional historicist and later stations were designed with Art Nouveau character. This was because of the influence of his pupils, Josef Hoffman and Josef Maria Olbrich. After the turn of the century, he quickly changed his design style. His work at the Postal Savings Bank of Vienna had a linear, smooth and crisp design. The interior was elegant and light using natural materials such as glass and metals. This is a picture of the Postal Savings Bank that he designed. There is also a picture of the Beechwood Arm Chair that he designed. This was also in the bank. It had a plywood seat, metal braces, and aluminum or brass shoes.


Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF2IPZC2sio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_Ei9OX728









CURRENT APPLICATIONS

Here is an Apple Store in Santa Monica that is using the same idea as Otto Wagner's bank in Vienna. 














PEER REVIEWS: 

Bailey: I really like your picture of your chair and how you found a current application of the picture. It really shows how things change over time and transform to a more modern application. 

Alexandra: I really enjoy your photos of the current applications of protomodernism. You can really see how there is little to no ornamentation and the clean lines. It is really simple and it really stands out in these images you found.