Always reticent about the facts of his early life, breuers formative years must have. While it was first created in 1926, it marked the beginning of a new era in modern furniture with a design that maintains a progressive look even today. From 1925 until 1928 marcel breuer was head of the furniture workshop. Quarto, original black cloth, original dust jacket. Aug 27, 2018 here was a lightweight volumetric box on a frame of steel and reinforced concrete raised on pilotis supports that lift a building from the ground above its sloping site, writes columbia university professor barry bergdoll in the essay marcel breuer and the invention of heavy lightness, recently published in the 2018 book marcel. Marcel breuers seminal influence on furniture and interior. Breuer extended the sculpture vocabulary he had developed in the carpentry shop at the bauhaus into a personal architecture that made him one of the worlds most popular architects at the peak of 20thcentury design. Built for wealthy artlover edith hooper and her husband in 1959, the stunning home is the second home breuer designed for hooper.
The wassily chair is probably the most famous of all the bauhaus chairs. Best known for trademark chair designs, breuer was notable for his collaboration with other designers, both in furniture and architecture. This midcentury home by famed bauhaus architect marcel breuer was made to embrace the surrounding nature. Richard north purchased the hooper house ii in 1996. Marcel breuer s devotion to the lightweight, even the weightless, was heralded in his determined search for new and ever more minimized forms for furniture during his student years in the weimar bauhaus and even more once he became master of the furniture. A native of pecs, austriahungary, marcel breuer nicknamed lajko taught at the harvard graduate school of design in cambridge.
Marcel lajos breuer, international style and modernism. Marcel breuer architecture, bio, ideas theartstory. Aug 08, 2017 marcel breuer was one of the most important furniture designers of the 20th century. The many lives of a very common chair the new york times. Breuer was an outstanding student and subsequently a master carpenter at the bauhaus in the early 1920s. The book is illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans, including those.
At the bauhaus he designed the wassily chair and the cesca chair which is among the 10 most important chairs of the 20 th century. Marcel breuer biography childhood, life achievements. Marcel breuer students britannica kids homework help. The time marcel breuer broke the rules and made an iconic chair the nowiconic wassily chair was the tenacious result of going rogue. The books and articles below constitute a bibliography of the sources.
While at the bauhaus, breuer revolutionized the modern interior with his tubularsteel furniture collection inspired by bicycle construction and fabricated using the techniques of local plumbers. Modern furniture canada contemporary, retro, rustic, and. A champion in facts the greatest champion in fact of the modern movement and protege of bauhaus founder walter gropius, marcel breuer is equally celebrated for his achievements in architecture and furniture. The famous wassily chair by marcel breuer is precisely one of these, the first ever chair to feature a bentsteel frame. Marcel lajos breuer was a hungarianborn modernist, architect and furniture designer whos known as being one of the masters of modernism. The importance of breuer in the history of interior design is definitively explained in marcel breuer, furniture and interiors, the exhibit that opens tuesday and continues through nov. Marcel breuer, architect, pioneer of modern furniture. Its a treasure, in part because of alexi brodovitchs unique design. Marcel breuers hooper house ii effortlessly connects. Breuer is famous for number of furniture designs, though perhaps no chair design is more famous than his wassily chair. Furniture and interiors christopher wilk, marcel breuer on.
This series contains several hundred original furniture drawings, and represents the four major phases of breuer s furniture work wood, tubular steel, aluminum and bent plywood. Marcel breuer and the invention of heavy lightness places journal. Breuers attention eventually moved towards architecture. The buildings that marcel breuer 19021981 designed and built during an era of exceptional architectural activity are of a number and a diversity of structure, material, form, and purpose that he could not have imagined at the outset of his life as an architect. However, none of the archival sources that i have consulted provide any evidence of gropiuss involvement. B3 chair, commonly known as the wassily chair, in 1925 for wassily kandinskys residence at the dessau bauhaus. From his early furniture design to his later massive concrete building forms, breuer remained a bold innovator. First edition of this monograph accompanying an exhibition at the moma on modernist icon marcel breuer. The legacy of marcel breuer today, marcel breuer is regarded as one of the most important modernists in architecture and design. Fancy sitting on one of the most important chairs of the 20th century. Feb 07, 1991 the chair, based on a 1920s design by marcel breuer, has a tubularsteel frame and a caned seat and back.
Breuer has emerged as bold innovator, constantly experimenting with new forms, adopting newly developed technology and materials in order to create a masterwork complimenting the industrial age. Marcel breuer, a hungarian furniture maker and architect who studied at the bauhaus and became one of its most important faculty members, was among the first to use tubular steel in chairs. Marcel breuer architect biography, buildings, projects. A midcentury modern designer born in hungary, marcel lajos breuer is known throughout the world today as one of the quintessential master of modernism.
Pieces that survived the cull included heirloom furniture, and meaningful paintings and photographs. Breuer s tubular steel furniture obviously also was influenced by the. Modern furniture, by the glittering simplicity and geometry of polished metal, shaped plywood, rustic wood, plastic, composite fibers, glass, and an everincreasing range of new materials, is a tremendous departure from all furniture design that had existed before it. Marcel breuer 19021981 architect and designer marcel breuer is perhaps best known for the design of his famous tubular steel wassily chair. The same year, he moved to dessau upon being commissioned to design the entire furniture for the recently constructed gropius buildings. Marcel breuer was a renowned hungarianamerican architect, ranked among the most influential architects and scholars of the 20 th century. Breuer was a student and subsequently a master carpenter at the bauhaus in the early 1920s. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The home switched owners when proficient neurosurgeon dr. At the bauhaus he designed the wassily chair and the cesca chair which is among the 10 most important chairs of the 20th century.
Marcel breuer, known to all as the father of modern furniture design, remains as one of the most important modernists of all time. Choose from 120 authentic marcel breuer seating for sale on 1stdibs. One of the most intact examples of breuers furniture and interior design work during this period is the frank. The hungarianborn breuer 19021981 became head of the furniture workshop at germanys famous bauhaus school. Legend has it that he got the idea of steeltubed furniture after riding his bike to school and looking down at the handlebars.
The wassily chair, also known as the model b3 chair, was designed by marcel breuer in 19251926 while he was the head of the cabinetmaking workshop at the bauhaus, in dessau, germany. Inspired by the strength and elegance of his bicycle handlebars, budding designer marcel breuer approached a local bike factory manager with an idea for developing and manufacturing furniture using tubular steel. Marcel breuer knoll modern furniture design for the. Marcel lajos breuer was born in pecs, hungary in 1902, and became on of the greatest architects and furniture designers of the 20th century. Despite popular belief, the chair was not designed specifically for the nonobjective painter wassily kandinsky, who was on the bauhaus faculty at the same time.
Best known for his iconic chair designs, breuer developed a thriving. Marcel breuer papers an inventory of his papers at syracuse. Marcel breuer, in full marcel lajos breuer, born may 21, 1902, pecs, hungarydied july 1, 1981, new york city, new york, u. Sun and shadow, the philosophy of an architect, that breuer wrote in the fifties.
Form giver of the twentieth century and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gently used marcel breuer furniture up to 50% off at chairish. Not only did breuer design furniture, he also designed a standardised metal house and later on designed his bamboos house. The hungarianborn marcel breuer became a leading 20thcentury exponent of design and architectural forms expressive of the industrial age.
His furniture, deeply appreciated by collectors all over the world, continue to be massproduced even to this day by the manufacturing company knoll group. The wassily chair was not designed for the nonobjective painter wassily kandinsky, despite popular belief. Gently used marcel breuer furniture up to 50% off at. A champion of the modern movement and protege of bauhaus founder walter gropius, marcel breuer is equally celebrated for his achievements in architecture and furniture. Marcel breuer and a committee of twelve plan a church. Marcel breuer the hungarianborn american architect marcel breuer 19021981 was among the most influential architects and teachers of the 20th century. Marcel lajos breuer was a world famous modernist architect and designer considered as one of the most prominent proponents of international style. Marcel breuer architect biography, buildings, projects and facts. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. His first designs, including the wassily, remain among the most identifiable icons of the modern furniture movement. A wordless, picturesonly post on reference library tipped me off to marcel breuer.
The combination is right at home among the condos eclectic style. Revered designer peter ghyczy and his legendary cold war egg chair gets a solo exhibition at the brussels design museum. Apr 14, 2014 the most comprehensive book on architect and designer marcel breuer 19021981, looking in detail at all the houses, furniture, and public buildings he designed in europe and the united statesfrom his beginning at the bauhaus through his collaboration with walter gropius, and the establishment of. It was the first such chair massproduced, starting in 1928. Marcel lajos breuer 22 may 1902 1 july 1981, was a hungarianborn modernist, architect and furniture designer. Marcel lajos breuer was born in pecs, hungary in 1902, and became on of the. This book offers the first comprehensive study of marcel breuer s enormously influential designs for furniture and inte. Marcel breuer download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
Eventually the chair took the name wassily from its intended recipient. The most comprehensive book on architect and designer marcel breuer 19021981, looking in detail at all the houses, furniture, and public buildings he designed in europe and the united statesfrom his beginning at the bauhaus through his collaboration with walter gropius, and the establishment of. Marcel breuer furniture and interiors book for sale at. In a series of institutional masterworks, marcel breuer sought to reconcile vernacular. Marcel breuer was a hungarianborn architect and furniture designer.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. A native of pecs, austriahungary, marcel breuer nicknamed lajko taught at the harvard graduate school of design in cambridge, massachusetts before ultimately settling in new york city. Curator and codirector of the show, the 224page book will. Breuer used new technologies and new materials in order to develop his international style of work. Marcel lajos breuer, international style and modernism fow blog.
Breuer considered all of his designs to be essential for modern living. Between 1920 and 1924 marcel breuer worked in the bauhaus furniture workshop. Johns university breuer buildings on the campus of st. Artist, architect, and furniture designer marcel breuer, was one of the. His furniture was in fact more popular in the 1970s than it was when it was. Marcel breuer marcel lajos breuer was born in the provincial city of pecs, hungary. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline. Breuer also designed the interiors and furnishings for the masters houses at the bauhaus, which by then had moved to dessau. The furniture series collects materials related to breuer s furniture designs and furniture business dealings. How marcel breuer made design waves with steel tubes and. Commonly known to his friends and associates as lajko breuer was born in pecs, hungary. He was a furniture designer as well as an architect.
He had a particular fascination with modular construction and simple forms, he even helped to develop unit construction, a combination of standardised units to form a technically simple but. Apr 29, 20 most celebrated for his tubular steel furniture and bold imposing architecture, marcel breuer 19021981 has marked the history of design. His entire body of work, both architecture and furniture, embodies the driving bauhaus objective to reconcile art and industry. Marcel lajos breuer, was a hungarianborn modernist architect, and furniture designer. The most comprehensive book on architect and designer marcel breuer 19021981, looking in detail at all the houses, furniture, and public buildings he designed in europe and the united statesfrom his beginning at the bauhaus through his collaboration with walter gropius, and the establishment of his own practice in the usa. Breuer developed a profound interest in designing economical, useful and standardized modularunit furniture, and in 1925, he designed his first chromiumplated, bent, steeltube furniture. Marcel breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution. Breuer first studied art in vienna after winning a scholarship. Wassily chair by marcel breuer marcel breuer chair. The international style that he represented stressed the development of new technologies and materials. Breuer extended the sculptural vocabulary he had developed in the carpentry shop at the bauhaus into a personal architecture that made him one of the worlds most popular architects at the peak of 20thcentury design. One of the masters of modernism, breuer used the ideas he had developed in the carpentry shop at the bauhaus. He was the head of a workshop at bauhaus, a german art school, when he designed the wassily chair 192526 and the cesca chair 1928.
Marcel breuer furniture breuer chair bauhaus 2 your house. For sale on 1stdibs marcel breuer furniture and interiors book in english by christopher wilk 192 pages. See more ideas about marcel breuer, marcel and architecture. Marcel breuer the wassily chair designed by marcel breuer in 1925 for the bauhaus office of the painter wassily kandinsky discover the world of bauhaus design, find products by artists and architects of bauhaus, such as marcel breuer, wilhelm wagenfeld or max bill. Marcel breuer s cesca chair marries traditional craftsmanship with industrial materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation. Marcel breuer, experimenting with tubular steel, designed the wassily chair, reducing the form of the classic club chair to its elemental lines and planes. How brutalist architect marcel breuer became a master of. In his famous chair design of 1926, he embraced the use of tubular steel. Marcel breuer biography infos for sellers and buyers. Breuers design was inspired in part by the curved tubular steel handlebars on his adler bicycle. Click download or read online button to get marcel breuer book now.
Shop authentic marcel breuer furniture and other marcel breuer furniture from the worlds best dealers. Marcel breuer was born on may 21, 1902, in pecs, hungary, a small. Marcel breuer architect biography, buildings, projects and. Wassily chair for todays object lesson, were doing a deep dive into the midcentury modern with one of the most iconic mcm pieces the wassily chair. I found it on ebay for a good price, through a buy it now dealer of outofprint midcentury and design books. Marcel breuer designed the wassily chair in 192526 while he was working at the bauhaus in germany. Marcel breuer, furniture and interiors by christopher wilk. His steel tube furniture brought 20th century modernism to the masses, but his bold use of precast concrete enabled large, modern buildings to be built under budget. His furniture productions remain as influential and popular today as ever before, and continue to be massproduced by esteemed manufacturers such as the knoll group.
Marcel breuer 190281 is celebrated as a furniture designer, teacher and a. Marcel breuer was a hungarian designer and architect who moved with and beyond the bauhaus school of design. Breuer invented modern tubular steel furniture in 1925, but didnt do his first house until 1932, said christopher wilk, guest curator and codirector of marcel breuer. After studying at the bauhaus and later becoming director of the schools furniture department in 1924, breuer designed a series of noted structures including innovative houses, unesco heaquarters, and the whitney museum of art. Marcel breuers first tubularsteel chair 1925 as illustrated on the cover of. The time marcel breuer broke the rules and made an iconic. Marcel breuer, 79, a monumental figure among modern architects and designers, died wednesday at his home in new york city. Sep 17, 20 how marcel breuer made design waves with steel tubes and plywood. Breuer showed the promise of architectural and artistic genius, and after proving himself a brilliant student, he was appointed the head of the furniture department. The house is also sometimes referred to as the harnismacher house, an alternative spelling that appears in christopher wilks important study, marcel breuer. Designed in 1925 by marcel breuer, this chair is an excellent example of the groundbreaking developments that bauhaus brought, such as the sleek and easily comprehensible design and the innovative use of materials.
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