Minimalism in Architecture
Minimalism is defined as a design or style in which the simplest and fewest elements are used to create the maximum effect. Minimalism had its origins in the arts — with the artwork featuring simple lines, only a few colors, and careful placement of those lines and colors.
Minimalist architecture, sometimes referred to as ‘minimalism’, involves the use of simple design elements, without ornamentation or decoration. Proponents of minimalism believe that condensing the content and form of a design to its bare essentials, reveals the true ‘essence of architecture’.
Minimalist started in the early 20th century with architecture, roughly around the 1920s. Post-World War I architect Van der Rohe was one of the first prominent architects who used principles in his designs that came to exemplify minimalist design. The reason minimalist architecture started taking off was the availability of modern materials: glass, concrete, steel. Also, standardized ways of building were forming, which helped to more effectively design and build minimalist buildings. The trend continued through the mid-20th century, with notable designer and architect Buckminster Fuller (more on him below) designing domes using simple geometric shapes that still stand and look modern today.
Like with anything in life, minimalist design was influenced by certain things that came before it. Specifically, what influenced minimalist design was:
1. The De Stijl art movement
2. Architects like Van Der Rohe
3. Traditional Japanese design
1. The De Stijl art movement: De Stijl, Dutch for “The Style”, also known as Neoplasticism, was a Dutch art movement founded in 1917 in Leiden. De Stijl consisted of artists and architects. In a narrower sense, the term De Stijl is used to refer to a body of work from 1917 to 1931 founded in the Netherlands.
De Stijl pushed for simplicity and abstraction by limiting designs only to its essential form and color, focusing on:
· Horizontal and vertical lines
· Rectangular forms
· Primary values (white, black and grey)
· Primary colours (blue, red and yellow)
2. Van Der Rohe: One of the leading power force behind modern architecture, Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, a German architect during the post-World War 1, laid the ground work for minimalist design. Van Der Rohe achieved simplicity and clarity in his architectural designs by:
· Using modern material such as steel and plates of glass
· Having a minimal structural framework
· Including lots of open space
Ps: The term “less is more” which encompasses the essence of minimalism was made famous by him.
3. Traditional Japanese Design: Focusing on including only what is most important and doing away with the rest is the main focus of traditional Japanese design. Observing old Japanese architecture and interior design will show that the focus wasn’t on extravagance but simple color and design choices and clean lines and forms.
Features of Minimalist design
Form follows function: The requirements of a project are what frame the way it looks. The objective of minimalist architecture is to prioritize functionality and that the projects have a clear purpose.
Minimalists steer away from any decorative elements that might end up confusing the user. This leads to the conservation of resources during the process of construction. One way to do this is to keep subtracting elements until you finally have the bare minimum to work with.
Use basic geometry: Minimalism is all about stripping down to the essentials, which, in the context of architectural forms, comes down to geometry and lines. Most minimalist buildings have a signature composition of simplified angles defined by clean lines that follow classic geometric shapes.
The drama in these cases is created by combining geometric shapes and experimenting with the scale. In most instances, the roofs provided are flat rather than pitched. The objective is to create designs that are efficient and straightforward with the complexity of spaces as low as possible.
Lighting: The sole ornamentation of minimalist architecture is the light — natural or artificial — that is allowed to flood the interiors. Close attention is paid to the lighting, which can be used to create a dramatic play of shadows and highlights in the otherwise simple spaces of the building.
Light renders a feeling of warmth and coziness to the areas and makes them appear more spacious and airy. It complements the design and enhances the aesthetic, making it one of the most essential elements of minimalism.
Material Choices: The simplicity of minimalist architecture, like all its other elements, extends to the materials used in it. The materials exhibited are such that they do not distract from the structure. The use of glass, steel, and concrete is predominant in this style. All the efforts aim towards choosing order, calmness, and clarity.
The materials and textures are also pivotal in accentuating the elements that need to be in the spotlight. The limitations in the variety of materials can be compensated by introducing rich textures to the composition.
Open Plan: One thing that can be observed in most minimal designs is an open plan. Minimalist plans consist of simple geometries of space. The layouts are functional and arranged to create a sense of tranquility and order. The spaces consequently created are flexible and adaptable for multiple purposes.
Free-flowing roomy areas that are filled with abundant light and pay equal emphasis to views. Internal walls are put to use only for rooms and areas where privacy is a necessity, like bathrooms or bedrooms.
Some people dislike this movement and prefer the more “luxurious”spaces, but it all boils down to preferemce and personality choices, which do you prefer? Let me know what you think
