Beauty + Utility

"Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely be constructed."
-Owen Jones

 
Owen Jones was one of the first design reformists. In 1856, he published his book The Grammar of Ornamentation. Within this he explicitly expresses in his 5th principle that objects should always be a functional form and that function should always take precedence over the aesthetics. Jones also looks to the ideals in design that Pugin established. He like Pugin says that ornaments should not imitate other realistic things in a way which has no relevance to the object. Jones explains that by doing so, the designer is giving the object an air of false magnificence and that it will never truly be something of beauty- Something that is truly beautiful will not come from an imitation of something else that is beautiful in its own sense, such as imitating nature.

 

Ecopods

To some extent Jones is right because, if I wanted to look at a flower, I would not go looking for this in a lamp or the leg of a table, but instead in its natural environment, not at a human replication. But this however is more relevant in the historical sense because as we move into the future, more of the designs produced by designers are artistically driven. Often, pieces of work which are ‘construction decorated’ are perceived by society as though the designer hasn’t thought through the design process properly to create something which is not only functional but also aesthetically appealing. Because of the massive increase of newly discovered materials and processes, decorated construction can often be more appealing and functional than construction decorated. Also as we come into this new age, sustainability is a big part of the future of design and not only do objects have to be functional and show good aesthetics, sustainability is now part of the big question. Such as these Ecopod coffins designed by Hazel Selina, which are made of recycled materials and biodegradable, although its aesthetics are questionable.

Damien Hirst’s piece of work, Momento Mori, more commonly referred to as the diamond skull is an example of ‘construction decorated.’ The diamonds are an embellishment to the exterior construction of the skull.

The Sensuous Curve

The sensuous impulse in design refers to the sinuous “s curve” which was used in designs to excite and engage the emotion of the user. The flowing and expressive curves were a break away from the structural lines and geometric shapes seen in the Classical era.

Both lines and curving forms can be seen repetitively throughout history as we flicker back and forth between the two styles; from the Parthenon to the Rococo era, through to Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature sweeping lines to the sensuous curves in the designs by Zaha Hadid.

Sensuous impulse peaked in the Rococo and Art Nouveau era which embodied expressive forms inspired by nature but in doing so the designs were somewhat dysfunctional and expensive, such as the ‘Candelabra’ (Juste-Aurele Meissonier, 1734), a stark contrast from the Classical era. Around the time of the industrial era, sensuous curves were applied in a more functional manner as designers considered the ergonomics of the designs, such as ’La Chaise’ (Charles & Ray Eames, 1948). In the history of design, the curve was used mostly with the idea of form over function, but as we emerge into the new era, the range of materials is far wider and research is more extensive, the form can be as equally as in the ‘Heatwave Radiator’ (Joris Laarman, 2003).

Once again, the catholic church is leading us in this revolution of new design. This Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, designed by DOS Architects, really embodies the contemporary interpretation of the sensuous impulse.

Wind Turbines: Our Future

In New Zealand, wind turbines are commonly found in the countryside but the fact that they can be located in the middle of the ocean adds another dimension of efficiency. That way, they get maximum exposure to wind and no one can complain about wind farms blotting the landscape. With the deplenishing stock of the world’s un-renewable energy sources, this sustainable source will be part of the future.