Art Nouveau The development of Scottish Architecture Assignment

Assignment Task

Introduction

Art Nouveau is an Architectural Style which was developed in the late 19th – early 20th century. The Architectural Style is derived from the Art Nouveau movement which began in continental Europe, in 1880, initially through the fine arts and gradually developed into the applied arts. Architecturally, Art Nouveau style is characterised by its natural, flowing, asymmetrical curves making use of modern materials, creating large open and unusual shaped spaces. Art Nouveau was a development on, but a rejection of, Victorian Architecture with its iterative copying of classical, medieval and gothic revival style. Art Nouveau was a precursor to the Art Deco movement with designs later becoming more geometric, straight lines with curving floral decoration, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s “Glasgow Rose” being a famous symbol of this style.

Context

Fundamentally influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement of the mid19th century by designers such as William Morris, Art Nouveau became popularised in Europe and blurred the line between the fine arts and applied arts with various media being explored. Focusing on, not only design but skill and craftsmanship. Applied to architecture in the late 19th century by Belgian architects Hankar and Horta the movement gained interest across Europe and North America with the introduction of natural curving, sculptural lines, organic shapes, large openings decorated with leaves, flowers, vines, animals and other natural elements. It was a refreshing design style compared to the architecture produced during the Victorian Era and was seen as the antithesis for the growing industrialisation happening within Europe and rise of the mass production factory.

The traditional craftsman was no longer a requirement for architecture of the time. However, Art Nouveau designs with new modern materials, now available to experiment with, gave the craftsman new goals to create large stained, curved, glass with intricate mosaic elements and cast-iron ornamentation. These elements adorned both exterior and interiors. The ability to be able to experiment and design with this new style was a sign of the times as the western world was flourishing, much like the style! Art Nouveau style is often expressed in form around openings, stairs and railings, and roof form.

It can be found in the smaller details contained within a building including internal fixtures and fittings. Furniture and lighting of interiors were often designed in the same style to give a continual expression of the style throughout the building’s interior.

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