French Broad House, Riverdale, Tennessee, 2020, Sanders Pace Architecture, 2020. Image © Keith Isaacs
This article delves into the enigmatic term known as "midcentury modern" and explores its meaning in today's world. Despite its uncertain time frame and the debate surrounding its application, this architectural style continues to captivate people's attention. Auction houses, secondhand furniture stores, and realtors have profited from the fascination with this design aesthetic. With the passage of time, however, it becomes increasingly difficult to define what falls under the category of midcentury modern or if it should even be considered a cohesive movement.
The Significance of Names
As Shakespeare's Juliet implied, names hold power and influence. The way we label things shapes our perception of them. For instance, referring to slaves as "enslaved people" or abandoning outdated terms like "Orientals" demonstrates our cultural growth and sensitivity. Similarly, the shift from "chairmen" to "chairpersons" reflects an evolving understanding of gender. The importance of terminology and its impact on our lives is evident.
The Midcentury Crisis
The term "midcentury modern" poses a unique challenge – it is both upon us and about to be upon us. Its ubiquity in academic circles and the fine art community has led to its overuse and, subsequently, its dilution. The author's personal encounter with midcentury modern occurred while writing about the redevelopment of a shopping plaza in Knoxville, Tennessee. The demolition of an architecturally significant mid-century building sparked a conversation about the accurate usage of the term.
A Loose Definition
As an active participant in the Docomomo US organization, which advocates for the preservation of modernist architecture, the author frequently encounters the term midcentury modern. However, its loose definition and varying interpretations create confusion. The term is not yet included in mainstream dictionaries, leaving us to rely on sources such as the Urban Dictionary or Wikipedia, which are not always reliable. The lack of a concrete definition underscores the need for clarity.
The Bauhaus Connection
The term midcentury modern is often associated with the International and Bauhaus movements. However, these connections are not entirely accurate. There was no specific mid-century modern movement in the United States, and the notion of a "Bauhaus movement" is also a misnomer. While many influential architects from the Bauhaus school had a profound impact on American architecture, categorizing their work as part of a "movement" oversimplifies their contributions.
The Future of Midcentury Modern
Looking ahead, we face a potential midcentury modern crisis. In just a few decades, we will be entering the realm of 21st-century midcentury modernism. This raises questions about how we will differentiate between the original mid-century modern period and its contemporary echoes. Many architects intentionally design projects that pay homage to the mid-century aesthetic, blurring the boundaries between eras. In the future, architectural historians will have to navigate the complexities of distinguishing between these architectural epochs.
The Preservation Dilemma
Preservationists are often faced with difficult decisions when it comes to choosing which buildings to save. With limited resources, not everything can be preserved. For example, the ongoing efforts to save Marcel Breuer's former house in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, raise intriguing questions. In the future, preservationists may have to choose between preserving a 50-year-old house from the 21st-century midcentury modern movement, a house that inspired it from the original 20th-century MCM period, or a house by a renowned architect like Marcel Breuer. These choices exemplify the challenging decisions made in countries with extensive architectural legacies.
Dogan Gather Flats Renovation, Knoxville, Tennessee, Sanders Pace Architecture, 2022. Image © Keith Isaacs
As we navigate the fluidity of architectural styles and their evolving definitions, it is crucial to critically examine the terminology we use. The term midcentury modern, despite its familiarity, remains elusive. As the architectural landscape continues to transform, we must embrace the complexities and nuances of design movements, preserving their authenticity while allowing for innovation and reinterpretation in the present and future.
