From Bauhaus to Our House

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex

Introduction

When selecting furnishings and window coverings for your home, it is advantageous to have an understanding of their historical significance.  Essentially, what has transpired over decades of design innovation and experimentation; coupled with advanced materials and manufacturing processes that affords state-of the-arts fabrics and technologies.  Innovating for over 60 years, Luxaflex leads the way toward creating the next wave of modern homes.

Mod squad in the making

Considered an icon of modernism, the Bauhaus design school revolutionized architectural and creative thinking that inspired the homes of today.  Founded in Germany, the Bauhaus school operated from 1919 to 1933.  During my travels to Berlin, I visited the Bauhaus Archives, the museum that houses the largest collection of everything Bauhaus – a must-see for interior design enthusiasts.

What is the Bauhaus?  And how does its design philosophy influence Australian home life choices from building construction to decorative fabrics, window coverings, art and tableware?  Let’s begin with a thumbnail description of the Bauhaus philosophy and how it made its way to Australian shores.

Design as art

The essence of Bauhaus theory was to unify design studies with fine art.  Its diverse curriculum covered wall painting, sculpture, metalwork, weaving, photography, graphic design and music.  Cutting-edge industrial technologies of the early 1900s made possible the use of unorthodox materials such as synthetic textiles, metal tubing, and fiberglass to create useful and beautiful objects for a new way of living.  Cabinetry and loose furniture items; and decorative accessories and fabrics were equally considered in the conceptual design of a home. 

Their loss, our gain

Undermining the Bauhaus movement in Germany and greater Europe was political turmoil and World War II, which resulted in the school’s 1933 closure and with many of its students and faculty fleeing to starting anew in Australia and the Americas.

Just our luck

Post Second World War European furniture makers immigrating to Australia brought with them knowledge of the innovative materials and manufacturing processes.  One of the most significant new breed of Australian furniture designers was Grant Featherston, who bent and joined precut pieces of plywood to make his now iconic range of Contour chairs.  In the early 1950s hardly an issue of Australian Home Beautiful or Australian House & Garden did not include an article featuring his design or designs by his peers, Clement Meadmore and Douglas Snelling.  Today their furniture design pieces are highly sought after by collectors.

‘House of Tomorrow’ is today

As part of the 1949 Modern Home Exhibition held in Melbourne, the ‘House of Tomorrow’ offered its aspirational vision of home life.  The exhibition, designed by Robin Boyd, Australian architect and proponent of the International Architectural Movement, was built inside The Royal Exhibition Building and noted for its vibrant interiors.  The furniture was designed by Featherston and featured contemporary textiles by Frances Burke.  The yellow rubber tiles, grey and white striped wallpaper and dark blue ceilings were declared too revolutionary.  With time modern furniture and modern architecture were accepted as a logical combination; hence the furnishing selections by many a contestant on renovation reality televisions programs such as The Block and House Rules.

Your time to innovate

If interior or exterior window coverings are part of your next home or office design project, take a look at what’s new at Luxaflex.  One of the products on my radar is the Luxaflex Duette Architella Shades.  Not only is there an exquisite range of contemporary fabrics but also its honeycomb construction creates an insulation barrier that retains cool inside when it’s hot outside; and warmth when it’s cold.

Luxaflex Duette Architella Shades

To learn more

For more about Australian modern furniture design, Mid-Century Modern written and compiled by Kristy Grant is highly recommended and a fascinating read.  And the National Gallery of Victoria Mid-Century Modern exhibition- now through 14 October 2014

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/mid-century-modern-australian-furniture-design

For more about Bauhaus:  The Bauhaus Collection, Bauhaus Archive Berlin

http://www.bauhaus.de/en

Interior Design Insights: Afloat in Berlin

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex

Traveling through Europe during the western hemisphere spring, I stayed in some fabulously designed hotels and resorts but wanted to find holiday accommodation out of my everyday walk of life. Searching online for Berlin accommodations, I found just the ticket:  a modern houseboat berthed on the Spree River, East Berlin.

It was my first visit to Berlin and I was duly impressed by the liveability of the history-rich city, its embrace of cutting-edge design, fashion and food; and the resiliency of its people. Arriving in Germany after spending time in Italy, Spain and France, I was reticent to take on yet another tongue-twister language - at minimum learning to speak the basics in each country such as 'hello', 'please' and 'thank you'. Asking a friendly Berliner how to pronounce ‘hello’, the response was ‘hello’. Great! This is going to be easier than I imagined. Not only are cosmopolitan Berliners fluent English speakers – from taxi cab drivers to merchants and restaurant staff but equally important they delight in assisting foreigners with language translations, directions and to share their respective accounts of Berlin’s history – specifically, fascinating recollections of when 'The Wall' came down in 1989.

Given English is my only fluent language, I tend to play it safe when selecting accommodation in non-English speaking countries. As example, when staying in a hotel there is a concierge or hotel management to assist with directions and general logistics. Visiting Berlin, I felt within my comfort zone to step out and expand my horizons.

That said, from an interior designer perspective, hotel guest room interiors are inspirational for residential design ideas – the attention to detail in the bathrooms; specifically the connectivity between the bathroom and sleeping area.  In this context, the Berlin houseboat literally 'rocked my design boat' with its innovative, practical design solutions and pristine waterfront location.

Other than floating on water, the houseboat shared similarities to a funky inner city studio apartment: compact with space at a premium; innovative selection of materials, finishes and furnishings; and adjacent to neighbouring units. With the exception of the swaying light pendants as a motor boat passed by on the river, the houseboat 'Black', with its next door neighbour houseboat 'White', was no different.

'Black', my home for a three-night stay, was sleekly designed and adeptly named referencing its colour palette. Entering the houseboat through a ceiling to floor warehouse-styled sliding door, the foyer leads alternatively to the living area or bedroom wing thus creating a walkway around the perimeter of the rectangularly shaped interiors. A log fireplace is the centrepiece of the living area backdropped by river views and flock of swans that nest nearby.

There is comfortable lounge seating and area rugs underfoot partially covering the black stained marine grade plywood floors. A well appointed yet compact kitchen came complete with an integrated sink, dishwasher, generously-sized oven, four-burner induction cook top and integrated refrigerator/freezer; plus all the small appliances, kitchen utensils and dinnerware to suit a disconcerting home chef and ideal for entertaining. Customised joinery in the bedroom including night tables and headboard wall, an ample bank of wardrobes and concealed laundry. Graffitied coloured back glass walls in the adjoining bathroom were a stand out complemented by an effective use of clear mirror and discretely positioned towel rails to maximise usable space.

Running the river frontage of the houseboat was a timber deck with more than adequate space for outdoor seating and a barbecue. The glazed exterior window wall gave way to vistas across the river to the city skyline and the Berlin TV Tower, the city's tallest building.

'Black' was an exceptionally comfortable holiday house and exceeded expectations; however, there was one amenity lacking to enhance its indoor and outdoor liveability:  an outdoor folding arm awning.  An awning not only provides protection from the outdoor elements such as harsh sunlight and inclement weather but visually extends the indoor living area outdoors.

If it’s an outdoor awning that will make an indoor-outdoor extension to your home, look no further than the Luxaflex extensive awning range. One of my favourite is the Garda folding arm awning.  Keeping with the theme of 'Black', Luxaflex has a wide array of fabrics to suit its decor and many more colours under the rainbow to suit yours.

Black and White houseboats

Suite 030, the platform for high class apartments

Website:  suite030.com