Mid Century Modern

2 Sep, 2004 in art pottery by admin

Mid Century Modern

Retro Modern Furniture Designers: George Nelson

You may not be familiar with the name George Nelson, but if you like retro modern furniture styles you're almost certainly a fan of his work. Universally recognized as one of the founding fathers of modernism, Nelson created designs that forever changed how people relate to their homes and the objects in them.

Nelson's remarkable career spanned 50 years and included success as an architect, author, publisher, teacher, and designer. His work was based on the perspective of finding solutions to the problems of modern life, and the concepts on which he based his designs remain as popular and vital today as they were during the mid century years.

Though remembered by most for his enduring designs in home furnishings and accessories, Nelson actually played a seminal role in developing the modern view of what a home is and how it should work. In his book "Tomorrow's House", which he co-authored with Henry Wright, he introduced the concept of the family room.

He also pioneered the idea of the storage wall, forever changing the way we utilize interior spaces. Creating modular wall storage provided a way for homeowners to revel in post-war prosperity while maintaining the clean, uncluttered look characteristic of modernism.

However the remarkable furniture and accessories Nelson designed remain his most lasting legacy. Working with the renowned Herman Miller company throughout the mid century period, Nelson introduced a totally new way of looking at home furnishing. His designs combined the sleek, uncluttered simplicity of modernism with a whimsical touch all his own.

The Marshmallow Sofa, created for Herman Miller in 1956, became one of the icons of the period. Created of 18 apparently free-floating cushions strategically affixed to a streamlined metal frame, the sofa combined comfort and efficiency in a revolutionary new style. This lighthearted take on seating, which was one of the forerunners of the 1960s pop art movement, is still manufactured today.

The Coconut Chair, also created for Herman Miller and introduced in the mid-fifties, is among Nelson's best known designs. Named for its resemblance to a quartered coconut, the chair consists of a curved, cushioned triangular shell perched on a simple chrome framework. The chair's remarkable comfort makes it a perennial favorite, and its simple styling makes it a perfect addition to any modern room.

The Nelson Bench, a precise geometric arrangement of pale wood slats on an open yet sturdy square base, was introduced in 1948. A true multi-purpose design, the bench could serve as seating, platform, or table, and was constructed to provide maximum durability and effociency while maintaining a light and airy look. The Nelson Bench is a ubiquitous part of both public and private decor today.

Nelson's innovative designs in home accessories, particularly his oversized, stylized wall clocks, quickly became icons of mid century style. His Sunburst Clocks, Starburst Clocks, and Ball Clocks are still widely available.

About the Author

Big, beautiful, and unmistakably mid-century, retro wall clocks are the perfect way to introduce a bit of period style and fun to any modern room. Find out more at Retro Modern Furniture.

How much money would it cost to power the world with nothing but modern solar panels? What about just the US?

only photovoltaics
consider that the world consumes about 1.6 x 10^16 joules per second
(i would guess that that number will be 2 to 3 times greater by mid century)
i've heard that if death valley was covered with conventional solar panels they would collect almost enough energy to power the United States
don't worry about intermittency

In ivestment costs?

A bunch of scientists recently published an article in scientific american about a proposal for 40 B$ to provide about 20% of the US electricity from solar panels in the next 10 years.

based on that, I'd say you need 200 B$ for the US.

World wide, I'd guess at 2 Trillion$

Austin Chronicle: Mid-Century Modern Heritage Homes Tour