Jh task2 chelsy

TH 20

CENTURY FURNITURE DESIGN

Josef Hoffmann

Mengyu Chen (Chelsy) 3502583

CONTENT 05 06 08 11 12

Introduction Biography Exquisite Work Artistic Characteristics Concept 1

13 14 15 16 17

Concept 2 Concept 3 Concept 4 Reflection Reference

INTRODUCTION Continuing on from task 1, task 2 requires me to produce my own designs for new items of furniture that are inspired by Josef Hoffmann’s work or era.

Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian architect that born in Europe in the late 19th century. Considered as a central figure in the evolution of modern design, it is obvious to see his artistic style with distinctive features.

The key of my designs to success is insight into his works and reflect his style to my pieces.

This folio will demonstrate his biography, masterpiece, artistic style and my design concepts, as well as a reflection in the end.

BIOGRAPHY Josef Hoffmann is considered as a pioneer and the central protagonist of Viennese Modernism, whose work is much more experimental that is commonly known.

He began studying architecture in 1887 at the "Höhere Staatsgewerbeschule" in Brü nn (now Brno, Czech Republic).

Between 1892 and 1895 Josef Hoffmann continued his studies in Vienna under Otto Wagner and Karl von Hasenauer at the "Akademie der Bildenden Kü nste".

Josef Hoffmann then taught at the Viennese "Kunstgewerbeschule" from 1899 to 1936. Along with other great artistic minds like Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser, Hoffman led the way with the Vienna Secession, a movement that aimed to steer design away from Historicism and create a new style that was all its own. In 1900 Josef Hoffmann went to Great Britain, where he met exponents of the British Arts and Crafts movement and familiarized himself with their work. Contact with the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh expecially exerted a formative influence on Josef Hoffmann's work.

In 1903 Josef Hoffmann joined Koloman Moser and the banker Fritz Wärndorfer in founding the "Wiener Werkstätte", which was modeled on British craftsmen's associations. Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser were joint heads of the "Wiener Werkstätte". The "Wiener Werkstätte" embraced all fields of the decorative and applied arts; moreover, designers it employed worked under very humane conditions that were progressive for the time. The objects produced at the "Wiener Werkstätte" not only bear the designer's mark but also that of the craftsman who executed the design. This shows that the "Wiener Werkstätte" made a serious attempt to place fine art and the applied arts on an equal footing.

Josef Hoffmann is rightly regarded as a leading exponent of Viennese Jugendstil, whose ideals he played a major role in articulating.

EXQUISITE WORK - CUTLERY Josef Hoffmann designed numerous cutlery services between 1903 and 1930. They are all reflected the combination of functionality and practicality together with the refined processing of the materials.

This piece was designed a year before the founding of the Wiener Werkstätte, marks a revolution in silver design: a departure from historicism in favour of clear lines and an uncompromising allegiance to functionality.

The character of ‘clinical’ can be seen in this design. It was considered as Hoffmann’s most successful cutlery design and still in production today by Alessi.

Exquisite Work – Sitzmaschine

The frame construction made of bent squared timber with a frame filled with geometrically arranged pieces of plywood and the semicircular curves of the rear section emphasize the constructive aspect of the object. The balls which are as functional as they are decorative – a typical detail of Hoffmann’s – balance the curved and rectangular elements.

At the same time as they stabilize the chair in the corners of the structure and under the runners, they support a shiftable crossbar on the rear arches which locks the back section at different reclining angles. Additionally, they create a visual balance to the square holes in the side and back sections.

This collection of glassware embodies Josef Hoffmann’s penchant for austere black-and-white designs.

Here, frosted crystal is adorned with a sophisticated alternating pattern of columned vertical and horizontal black lines.

EXQUISITE WORK

"Armloffel" chair originally designed in 1908. Made from ebonized ash wood, the armchair features button-tuffted around the seat of the chair and a leather seat pad.

Featuring Hoffman`s distinctive use of strict geometrical lines and his recurring quadratic theme, the Armloffel chair is a great example of his influential style.

ARTISTIC CHARACTERISTICS Hoffmann’s distinct style and favor of clean lines was seen throughout all the Wiener Werkstätte projects in the early 1900’s, emphasizing the use of simple shapes like squares and circles and favoring the combination of black and white.

His architectural work reflects his time as a student of the Vienna architect Otto Wagner, who disdained excessive decoration and employed new materials such as steel girders and reinforced concrete to create buildings with airy, open interiors full of light.

Although he was most prolific in the area of metalwork design, he also turned his attention to textile and fashion design. Regardless, he considered everything he created a work of art.

He brought a new level of elegance and simplicity to the domestic and built environment.

CONCEPT 1 – PENDANT LAMP Materials: Frosted crystal with hand-painted black bronzite decorate Color: Black and Transparent color

Inspiration source: Hoffmann Bronzit Serien, 1912

Similar pattern is decorated in the top part of the bulb

CONCEPT 2 - HIGHCHAIR Material: Plywood, steel Color: Black Size: Footprint 45cm wide x 49cm deep Overall height - ground to upper backrest - 79cm Seat height 55cm (from ground to seat)

Inspiration source: Sitzmaschine, 1905

Details: ①The chair leg with balls ②Flexible foot-plate

The foot-plate can move up and down to adjust babies

CONCEPT 3 - CABINET Material: Plywood, steel Color: Black Size: Height without legs: 40 cm Height with legs: 57 cm Width: 60 cm Depth: 35 cm

Details: ①Legs with balls decorated ②The cabinet door

CONCEPT 4 - TABLE

Material: Ash wood Color: Nigger-brown Size: 180x90x75cm

Inspiration source: Armloffel" chair, 1908

Side view

REFLECTION The second task let me get deeper access to Josef Hoffmann.

In fact, I told teacher that I was not quiet like his works when I stuck to the task, cause only use of black and simple line is not my dish. And teacher not only said “You don’t have to.” but also told me that “he made the bridge so that other people can go across from the bridge.” This sentence was really inspiring. After that, I found he was worthwhile to be respected when I went deep into him. Hoffmann is rightly regarded as a leading exponent of Viennese Jugendstil, whose ideals he played a major role in articulating. His vision were simplistic and controversial but they were made at the highest of qualities. In addition, I started to like his stringent and no-frills design. For producing my own design for new items, it is important to utilize principles and elements to achieve visual balance. It means flexible use of elements rather than the complex geometric overlap. When I finished my concept sketches, I wish I can use CAD to make it much more functional. But I will admit that my existing knowledge of solidworks can’t do it, so that the material of my designs can not be presented well. However, I still learnt a lot from Hoffmann and I’m looking forward to using Hoffmann as an influence on my future designs.

REFERENCE http://www.josef-hoffmann-handicraft.com/ http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/100masterpieces/detailseiten/sitzmaschine-josef-hoffmann.html http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/designer-profile-josefhoffman-126816 http://store.alessi.com/pol/en-gb/catalog/detail/rundes-modellcutleryflatware-set/jh01 http://www.mak.at/jart/prj3/mak/main.jart?contentid=1344416566090&rel=de&article_id=1342703965926&res erve-mode=active https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Hoffmann#/media/File:Josef -Hoffmann.jpg http://www.idesign.wiki/wiener-werkstatte-vienna-workshop1903-1932/

http://www.theviennasecession.com/wiener-werkstatte/ https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/dining-roomchairs/ten-josef-hoffmann-armloffel-chairs-made-wittmann/idf_466596/ https://www.wittmann.at/en/produkte/sitzmaschine/ http://www.artspace.com/josef_hoffmann/series-b-service-1 http://www.metroretrofurniture.com/cgibin/store.pl?item=9794&cameFrom=159 https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/VAD_PDF5_v8.pdf