MINIMALISM

SOURCE : GOOGLE IMAGES

1 DHANASHRI MIRAJKAR
What is Minimalism???
The Timeline
 What is Minimalism???

Minimalism was the -

Reaction to Abstract Expressionism.

What is Expressionism???
What is Abstract Expressionism

Expressionist architecture was an
architectural movement that
developed in Europe during the first
decades of the 20th century in
parallel with the expressionist visual
and performing arts that especially Einstein Tower in Potsdam near 
Berlin, 1919-22 (Erich Mendelsohn)
developed and dominated in 
Germany.

Goetheanum in Dornach near Basel
Switzerland, 1924-28 (Rudolf Steiner)

SOURCE : WIKIPEDIA
 Time line of Expressionism
1900 1960

Reactions to  Founding of the architectural

Art Nouveau
Adolf Loos published essay
"Ornament and Crime" which
rejects ornamentation in favour
of abstraction.
collective Der Ring largely
turns its back on expressionism
and towards a more
functionalist agenda.
Le Corbusier constructs 
Notre Dame du Haut signaling
his postmodern return to an
architectural expressionism of
form

Walter Gropius abandons
expressionism and moves Few Architects were
to rationalism. on same theme of Expressionism reborn
Expressionism

Minimalism
1900 1908 1923 1923-1930 1940 1950 1960

1900
 Introduction to minimalism

1. Started in 1960s in U.S.

2. It was the reaction to Abstract Expressionism.

3. The forms are abstract, clean, simple, and are

machine made.

4. Described in art, design and music.

5. Influenced by Japanese traditional design and

architecture.

1900 1908 1923 1940 1950 1960

Frank Stella, Die Fahne
1900 Hoch!, 1959, 
Whitney Museum of Am
erican Art
 Philosophy of Minimalism

1. Eliminate emotion, meanings and

indications.

2. Creation of singularity.

3. Move away from alternate perceptions.

4. Less is more.
1900 1908 1923 1940 1950 1960

Donald Judd stacks

1900
 Theory of Minimalism
The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in design and architecture, wherein the
subject is reduced to its necessary elements.

Minimalistic design has been highly influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture.

The works of De Stijl artists are a major reference: De Stijl expanded the ideas of expression by
meticulously organizing basic elements such as lines and planes.

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) adopted the motto "Less is more" to describe
his aesthetic tactic of arranging the necessary components of a building to create an impression
of extreme simplicity.

He enlisted every element and detail to serve multiple visual and functional purposes; for
example, designing a floor to also serve as the radiator, or a massive fireplace to also house the
bathroom.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Minimalism#Minimalist_architects_and_their_
Theory of Minimalism
Designer Buckminster Fuller(1895–1983) adopted the engineer's
goal of "Doing more with less", but his concerns were oriented
toward technology and engineering rather than aesthetics.

A similar sentiment was conveyed by industrial designer 

Dieter Rams' motto, "Less but better", adapted from Mies.

Luis Barragán is another exemplary modern minimalist designer.

Minimalist architectural designers focus on the connection

between two perfect planes, elegant lighting, and the void spaces
left by the removal of three-dimensional shapes in an
architectural design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Minimalism#Minimalist_architects_and_their_
works
Minimalist Architects

1. Tadao Ando (Japan, 1941)

2. Alberto Campo Baeza (Spain, 1946)
3. Luis Barragán (Mexico, 1902 – 1988)
4. John Pawson (UK, 1949)
5. Antoine Predock (USA, 1936)
6. Claudio Silvestrin (Italy, 1954)
7. Álvaro Siza Vieira (Portugal, 1933)
8. Peter Zumthor (Switzerland, 1943)
 1833-1999
Tadao Ando

Ligh Nature
Space Humanity Sanctuary
t

Koshino House Collezzione Naoshima Meditation

Ashiya (1979-81) Church on the Contemporary Art Space
Tokyo (1989)
Water Museum UNESCO (1995)
Ashiya (1979-81) Kagawa (1988-92)

Koshino Chikatsu-
House Kidosaki Asuka
House Historical Old/New
Ashiya Rokko
(1979-81) Ashiya Museum
(1979-81) Osaka (1990- Restaurant
94) Kobe (1985-
Walls, Light, Wind, Flow 86)
http://www.slideshare.net/rutujabhosale56/tadao-ando-
36954367?related=1
 Tadao Ando
1833-1999

“What I have sought to

achieve is a spatiality that
stimulates the human spirit,
awakens the sensitivity and
communicates with the
deeper soul.” –
Tadao Ando
Vitra Seminar House, Weil-am-Rhein
(1989-93)

http://www.slideshare.net/rutujabhosale56/tadao-ando-
36954367?related=1
 Minimalistic Interiors
 Minimalism in interior design means
spacious rooms with minimum of furniture
and details.

 The main element of this style is attention

to shape, color and texture. Planning
doesn’t suppose dividing into rooms; Minimalistic modern living room
furniture, cloth or glass partitions play the
role of separators. In modern minimalism
design accent is made on sharp geometric
shapes and asymmetry. Shape prevails over
purpose.

 Furniture must have streamline shapes and

upholstered with neutral colored leather.
Minimalistic modern staircase
 Minimalistic Interiors
 Shiny surfaces and straight lines
look amazing in this interior.

 Details should be made of

stainless steel or chrome.

Minimalistic modern bathroom

 The amount of accessories should be

minimal. Floor should be made of materials
that are easy to clean and take care of –
wood, linoleum or stone tile. It’s necessary
to foresee enough space to keep all your
stuff (simply designed wardrobe would be
just great). Minimalistic modern kitchen
 Minimalistic Furniture
 The minimalist approach
to furniture and decor is
one I come back to time
and time again.
 Whether or not you
actually intend to live
with the concept, I think
most of us are drawn to Subjectivity by A. G. Fronzoni
the clean lines and quiet
yet strong presence that
minimalist pieces deliver
without fuss — as the
saying goes, "Clear
space, clear mind."
Honey-pop arm chair by
Tokujin Yoshioka

Minimalistic desk
 Minimalistic Products
 The products are designed
with minimalistic
approach but in the
process, few somehow
lose their identity.

Minimalistic timer Minimalistic tape

Minimalistic bicycle Minimalistic cell toilet

 Minimalism in India
Architects: Studio Mumbai

Location: Chondi, Maharashtra,
India

Architects: Studio Mumbai

Principal Architect: Bijoy Jain

Project Team: Jeevaram Suthar,

Punamchand Suthar, Pandurang
Malekar

Structural Engineer: Dwijen Bhatt

Photographs: Courtesy of studio
Mumbai
The Copper House, Mumbai
The Copper House, Mumbai
The Copper House, Mumbai
The Copper House, Mumbai
The Copper House, Mumbai
Summery

Beginnings
1. 1960s.

2. Reaction to Expressionism..

3. Reduction…
 TO Conclude…..
Basics
1. A movement In sculpture & painting which arosw in
1950s, characterised by the use of simple, massive
forms.

2. Believed that 2-d art had a limited numbers of possible

different works

3. Deliberate removal of decoration…focused

on creating a purely visual piece, not
concerned with hidden or deeper meaning.

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=minimalism+movemen
TO Conclude…..
Basics
4. Objectified pieces-wanted people to see the object for
what IT IS, not what IT REPRESENTS.

5. Creating spaces that respond to human needs &

spirit juxtaposing powerful concrete walls with light &
nature, deep sense of peace, siple material & geometry.

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=minimalism+movemen
 Post minimalism

Post minimalism
Post-Minimalism describes attempts to go beyond
the idiom of minimalism, In architecture or the visual
arts.

In simple terms, 1960s minimalism is a rather

intellectual style of art characterized by extreme
simplicity of form and a deliberate lack of expressive
content.

Minimalist artists were only interested in presenting

a pure "idea".

In Post-Minimalism (1971 onwards), the focus shifts

from the purity of the idea, to HOW it is conveyed.
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-
art/minimalism.htm
 Bibliography
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_music
 http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/the-amazing-art-that-is-minimalist-
photography-39-examples/
 www.bculik.com/minimalism
 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/SSyoxNMwh0c/TiW5TPD08T

 http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/1960s-designs#slide-1
 es - Design - 1960s
 www.bbc.co.uk
 e Styles Pictures - Interior Design from the 1960s - House Beautiful
 www.housebeautiful.com
 www.houzz.com