First Design Inspiration – Art Nouveau

Art nouveau was a French international style of art, architecture and decorative arts. It was popular between 1890-1914 and was used to replace older historical buildings

The old England building in Brussels, designed in 1899

It flattens the organic shapes and turned them into sinuous flowing motifs

It takes inspiration from the natural world and can be characterised by:

- Extensive use of arches

- Curving plant like embellishments

- Asymmetrical lines also plant shaped

- Organic shapes

Moodboard

The Paris metro station entrances were designed by French architect Hector Guimard in the 20th century. They act as a marker of one of the influential ages in French art and architecture

There were two types of entry-way created: an Edicule ( meaning kiosk) structure or an open entourage (enclosure )

The entourageis two stem like lamp posts with a red orb similar to an flower bulb or an insect eye, connected by a sinuous arch

When Guimard was commissioned he was told to make the entrances ‘as elegant as possible’

The entrances are made of cast iron set in concrete and oxidized green brass

The Edicule was reminiscent of a dragonfly’s wings, a common motif in art nouveau