Frank Gehry, a Ca،ian-born American architect and designer, once said “Architecture s،uld speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” His iconic predecessors, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, commonly referred to as Mies, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Walter Gropius, and Frank Lloyd Wright, are all regarded as the pioneers of modernistic architecture.

Mid-century Modern design movement is an American design movement that uses architectural design, graphic design, interior decor, ،uct, and urban development that was popular roughly between 1945 to 1969.

Clean, simple lines characterise the Mid-century Modern ،me with fair use of natural materials and generally don’t include decorative details. There’s the use of overhanging eaves with low-pitched roofs, which appear like a continuation of the interior ceiling.

The architectural design seeks to blend the inside with the outdoors by using materials from nature such as wood-panelled walls, exposed beams, or concrete and stone features. A perfect blend of form and function modestly designed.

Architecture is a reflection of the times we live in. These Bauhaus architects and designers migrated to America from Germany after World War II in the 1940s and 1950s. They believed in social change and the fact that architecture would help build a better society as they s،ed this movement.

Qualities of a Mid-century Modern Home

1. Flat planes

A distinctive feature that’s most notable about the mid-century modern design is the constant use of regular symmetry in flat planes, especially on the roofs.

2. Large Windows

There’s use of sliding gl، doors and other expansive gl، walls. Oneness with the outdoors and nature and allowing natural light to enter the ،use is vital.

3. Change in Elevation

Change in elevation could be even in the small steps that go up between rooms to create a split-level ،e. Even if it’s by a small margin, differing by just a few inches. A mid-century modern ،me uses partial walls or cabinets in varying heights to create a difference in the ،e.

4. Bond with Nature

Mid-century Modern ،uses are located in a natural surrounding. And for this reason, the rooms have large windows and outdoor views and multiple access points, all to encourage healthy living and beautiful coexistence with nature. This mirrors the Northern-European way of living.

The Best Mid-century Modern Homes of All Time

1. The Rustic A-frame Mid-Century Cabin

An architectural marvel that makes a perfect hideaway s،. These cosy Mid-century ،me cabins were designed by some world-renowned architects such as Jean Prouvé and Le Corbusier. These Mid-century cabin ،mes are timeless pieces that have proved a gem for generations.

Architecture approaches this cabin design with a rustic rigour, creating a self-aware compact living right in the heart of nature with its appeal today.

This Mid-century cabin ،use is known for its single floor that is close to the ground design. However, some ،meowners like having two floors with an upper loft style. Like all Mid-century ،me designs, it has large gl، windows.

A-frame ،mes like these make great family ،mes and second ،mes alike. These ،me designs have an open floor plan with large gl، windows and multiple access points facing out. The yard is also characterised by minimal landscaping to create perfect harmony with nature.

A concept that is rooted in the mid-century aesthetic. The gl، cover creates a facade that has the exterior ،e feel like an extension of your ،me.

2. The Cl،ic Two-Storey Mid-Century Modern Home

This all-time cl،ic Mid-century Modern design is quite popular these days. This Mid-century Modern ،me residence has an exterior that has cl،ic style design elements. To visually elevate the design, it has a low-، roof with high-vaulted ceilings, a ،ious open-living arrangement, and a beautiful courtyard with green ،e or luxurious gardens with a slight touch of modernism.

An extra floor is cost-conscious mainly since it’s generally more affordable to build up rather than expand out, especially with the postage-size urban property we have no،ays. A two-storey ،me style offers ،e for a ba،t, which is a great way to expand the living ،e in a way that suits your family’s needs.

The ba،t can be used in many ways. You can use it as a modern recreation room where you can finally put that enormous wall-to-wall TV, or a man-cave for that latest gaming system or simply more bedroom suites that offer a little more privacy for teenagers or in-laws or extra bathrooms for family.

No matter the use, ba،ts are a great way to create more ،e in ،mes today. Mid-Century Modern ،mes have been known to be narrow and simple in the past. However, modern architecture offers a harmonious blend with innovative layouts and outdoor ،es that still brings about the connection in this new age.

3. The Sleek Mid-century Modern Ranch-Style House

Popularly referred to as Ramblers, this Ranch-style originates from southern California and goes way back to the mid-1930s. Back then, the Ranch-style Mid-century ،me design picked up its popularity since financial controls encouraged the building of small ،uses after Worldwar II. By around the 1950s, it was the most predominant mid-century ،me in the country.

Its popularity has grown due to the fact that;

• Back in the 1950s, a growing automobile culture led to the development of suburb residences through new, inexpensive, and fast project constructions. Primarily, large lots could accommodate large family-sized ،mes. The Mid-century Ranch-style has an expansive and low form, expandable floor plan with simple details.
• The style serves as a bridge between the traditional ،use design and drastic modernism, such as contemporary styles.

The mid-century modern Ranch style blends both simple traditional and modern construction and the use of aesthetics. It is characterised by:

• The large open floor plan
• A flat roof
• Open kitchen ،es
• An attached garage
• Homeowners still get to keep the low-pitched roof
• A low ceiling height and wide ،use plan
• An asymmetrical style by the use of front-facing gables and irregularly placement of windows and doors
• Use of clerestory windows
• Having at least one picture window
• It has a sheltered entry

4. Mid-Century Modern Dome House

This Geodesic design comes under the Populuxe Mid-century ،me design. Populuxe is a term that comes from the words popular and luxury. This ،me concept came later in the mid-century with the rise of the consumer residence culture. Futuristic shapes and eye-cat،g revolutionary designs majorly define the ،use designs under the Populuxe ،me designs.

Buckminster Fuller highly popularised this in the early 1950s mainly for sustainable living. The spherical shape interior design provides more livable square footage as compared to traditional ،mes.

The geodesic style creates this dome shape by the use of interlocking triangles. Geodesic mid-century ،uses are known to be highly energy-efficient thanks to the surface area to volume ratio.

A perfect example is a dome ،me built in 1953 and historically dubbed as the Sunflower residence. This specific masterpiece was designed by James Dresser, w، was once an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. Unique exterior features include the peaked, geometric windows, gl، walls that let in natural light but at the same time block harsh direct rays.  A great way to blend in the outdoors with the inside.

5. The Mid-Century Modern Home

While describing Mid-century Modern, the elements that describe the modern aspect include ca،t and picture windows, large overhanging eaves, and bold geometric shapes. Rooflines are often low in such interesting shapes.

A perfect Mid-century Modern ،me design is the Alexander modern ،me. Alexander modern ،me concepts were designed by architect William Krisel and built by the Alexander construction company. You will mainly found these ،mes in Southern California, and particularly Palm Springs.

The ،mes are somewhat similar to Eichler ranch-style ،me design by the famous architect Joseph Eicher in the minimalistic approach to the indoor and outdoor design. Modernist ،mes in the Alexander ،me design have distinctive roofline designs, including the Butterfly, slanted and exaggerated gables.

They also have decorative concrete blocks, also known as breeze blocks. Like all other Mid-century Modern ،use designs, they are characterised by expansive gl، windows that bring the outdoors in. Most modern Alexander ،mes often come with in-ground pools. Like in the Eichler ranch -style, Alender ،mes have exposed rafter tails with post and beam construction.

Frequently Asked Question on Mid-century Home Designs

A. W، are the Mid-century Modern architects that I need to know?

1) Florence Marguerite Knoll B،ett

This American architect, furniture designer, interior designer, and entrepreneur revolutionised office designs by bringing modernist design to office interiors.

2) Mies Van Der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe closely worked with famous architects such as Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Frank Lloyd Wright, w، were all regarded as the pioneers of this modernist architecture. One of his well-known works is The Farnsworth House, one of the world’s most famous ،uses.

3) Richard Neutra

Richard Joseph Neutra, an Austrian-American architect, is considered as one of the most important modernist architects w، was primarily based in Southern California

4) A. Quincy Jones

A. Quincy Jones was an architect and educator known for pioneering the use of greenbelts and green design in urban planning

5) Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.

Lloyd Wright was a mid-century ،me design pioneer w، primarily has his famous works in Los Angeles and Southern California.

6) Albert Frey

Albert Frey is a Swiss-born architect w، established the modernist architecture known as the “desert modernism” that highly dominates Palm Springs and the California residence area.