![]() This was a groundbreaking design, as it stretched the limits of plastic technology due to its dramatically curving shape. Image from Holger Elgaard Wikimedia commonsĭesigned by Danish designer Verner Panton and manufactured by Vitra. The top designs that I saw mentioned again and again online were: ![]() A hallmark of space age furniture was the use of synthetic materials, like plastic. Now you likely came to this site for furniture and we are going to end our deep dive with a look at space age furniture designs. Image or Pierre Cardin's Space Age Collection from As a side note, why do we not learn these types of things in history class? Pierre Cardin passed away in 2020, at 98 years of age! It was actually fashion designer, Pierre Cardin, who coined the phrase "Space Age". Many industries, including the automotive, fashion and furniture industries took notice of the world's new interest in space. Which makes sense, when you consider the innovations that NASA was making in their space program. I really thought that the way that companies embraced space age design for their exhibits and designs at these fairs illustrated how top of mind space was to the American people in the 60s.Īfter World War II, manufacturers and designers started to utilize plastic and synthetic materials more. Just look at this Coca Cola building! Image from According to the New York fair was had more extravagant futuristic commercial buildings that did not last long after the fair. ![]() There was also a science centered fair in New York City a few years later in 1964. Interestingly, it was reportedly at this same fair that the Broyhill furniture company presented their new designs for the Brasilia furniture line! So does that make Broyhill Brasilia space age? Read on below to find out more about space age furniture. ![]() The Space Needle was over 600 feet tall and it was one of many edifices built for the 6 month long fair with a total attendance of 10 million that put Seattle on the map.Īn attraction that left a lasting impression on fairgoers was the Bubbleator that the rode to the land of tomorrow. The Seattle Space Needle was the brain child of the organizers of the World's Fair, hoping to draw even more people to Seattle's exhibition on space. Thirty member nations along with businesses, artists and scientists all had the goal to show what would be possible in the future. The fair was also known as the Century 21 Exposition. There was even a World's Fair in Seattle, Washington in 1962 where a monumental building was erected in honor of the nation's scientific aspirations. Products emerged that were aimed at young people, so that they would be encouraged to consider careers in science to aid the cause. I would love to hear about what you might enjoy or have from this era!Ī fascination with space and science occurred worldwide, but we are going to mainly focus on what occurred here in the United States. It was the United States' race to space against the Soviet Union during the cold war that prompted the nation to focus on and promote science and the exploration of space. This week, (and actually over the next month over at the Omaha Modernism Guild) I wanted to delve into the history of Space Age Design. What comes to mind when you hear the words "space age"? An old scifi show like Star Trek or the cartoon The Jetsons? Or maybe you think of the curvy, futuristic designs in the 60s and 70s, like the egg chair, the Panton chair or the colorful groovy designs of wallpaper in that era.
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