The best approach to fuss-free living came after World War II, with homes built during that era holding their power until the 80s and resurging in the late 90s up to this day.
Mid-century pieces are versatile and well-designed, with a focus on both utility and simplicity. Because of their meticulous design, these vintage pieces have proven to be invaluable. They still feel new, modern, stylish, and elegant nowadays.
Large windows are typical in mid-century modern homes. One of the main goals is to add brightness to the space. However, it also strives to encourage dwellers to appreciate both indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The design of mid-century modern homes reflects their emphasis on organic aesthetics and comfort of living. This design concept is famous for its clean lines and clear shapes. It’s unpretentious without being dull. And it’s breathtaking without being too intricate.
In this post, we’ll look at the key features of mid-century modern homes as well as the history behind this design style. We’ll also feature some of the most beautiful homes built by renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright (design pictured above), Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and more.
We’ll also explore the beautiful abodes in Palm Springs like steel homes and desert residences—you can skip ahead if you want!
What Is Mid-Century Modern?
The concept is all about bringing the outdoors in. Mid-century modern was thought to be a collection of structures that were built after II, as opposed to a particular style. It now refers to a specific architectural or design style.
This style is an American classic that flourished from 1945 to the 1960s. And it has had a significant comeback in recent years. You may have seen homes with elegant Scandinavian designs or Danish Modern, both of which were inspired by mid-century modern.
All the gorgeous and imposing homes built by the greatest architects from back in the day did not come cheap. However, mid-century-inspired Scandi homes made the style affordable to many homeowners.
Brief History
The Bauhaus movement and Prairie-style architecture were the major influences for mid-century modern homes. This movement has a tragic backstory. But it evolved in success—thanks to European architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius.
They’re the ones who introduced the concept to the US when they fled Nazi Germany. Along with Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto, their work established the style of modernism that we all appreciate today.
Throughout its early popularity, mid-century modern architecture was classified into three styles:
International
The Mid-Century Modern style in the United States was an American interpretation of the International and Bauhaus movements. This included works by Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The homes were mainly finished with stucco and were very plain, having minimal to no adornment.
Contemporary
Contemporary homes were the most popular in the mid-century modern movement. They feature clean lines, oversized windows, and more natural, organic materials like wood, brick, and stone.
These contemporary homes also feature asymmetrical façades with windows that expand to the roofline. Interiors with exposed ceilings and beams were also very common.
Organic Shapes
In this category, some mid-century modern architects preferred for their structures to exist in their natural environments. They wanted homes with more natural curves over ones with straight lines and right angles.
As a result, organic mid-century modern homes built in the forest and the desert looked very different from each other.
After World War II
Following WWII, Americans strongly focused on lifestyle and quality time with family. As well as interacting with nature. This is evident in the many mid-century homes in the suburbs.
Many middle-class homeowners adore open living spaces. They love floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views of their backyards. Also, the home features technological upgrades, particularly in the kitchen.
The modern movement also expanded to incorporate the design of large expanses of towering buildings and landmarks. You’ll see them in cities like New York City and West, San Francisco, and LA.
Defining Elements of Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Most mid-century modern homes have the following defining elements.
Oversized Windows
The original mid-century modern homes stressed nature and living with a connection to the outdoors. As a result, they were designed with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass walls. This feature offers great views of the backyard.
It involves large, flat panes of glass-like sliding windows, creating a feeling of harmony with the outdoors in which they are built. This way, dwellers have better access to the outdoor living spaces, as if it’s a natural expansion of the landscape. The windows also let natural light enter the room, making it more laid back.
Shifting Elevations
Another distinguishing feature of many mid-century modern homes is small steps or stairs that run up and down between rooms. These steps create split-level spaces. They are great for connecting rooms across the house.
There are ways architects do to create multiple depths and changes in elevation in the room. Think of incorporating partial brick walls or cabinets of different heights.
Minimalist
Mid-century modern homes also have a strong focus on minimal decoration. Some mid-century modern homes have more elaborate designs than others, but minimalism is a significant aspect of the approach.
To achieve such simplicity, a mid-century modern home can give up an intricate exterior design. Boxy yet functional exteriors are great. The exteriors are complemented by simple interiors with clean lines and a subdued color scheme.
Some decoration, monochrome brickwork, and pops of color will go a long way for the interiors.
Clean Lines and Geometric Shapes
Mid-century modern architecture often feature straight lines, flat levels, and right angles, making a structure more streamlined. But the strong, clashing lines of angled roofs are among the movement’s most defining features.
Many modern ranch-style homes feature gabled roofs or asymmetries. And there are also many mid-century modern homes with flat roofs and straight lines.
Functional Spaces
Having functional spaces that allow you to work with convenience makes life easier. This is one of the true essences of the modern movement. Mid-century modern homes are not pared down by technological upgrades, particularly in the kitchen.
The living room’s purpose is not so much to wow guests. In mid-century modern, this part of the house is for comfort and is suited for enjoying a modern way of life.
Such interior spaces can be adorned in the practical Scandinavian style. The warm tones, upholstery, and simple decorations can make the interiors inviting.
Blending With Nature
Mid-century modern homes are designed to be integrated into their surroundings instead of being intrusions. Since interaction with nature is an important element, most homes offer much outdoor access to the outdoors.
There are even homes with single rooms having many doors and windows that lead to the outdoor living space. The dining area may have a full glass wall or door that looks out onto the garden is also important.
A mid-century modern home built in nature can take advantage of this natural beauty. The multiple outdoor views and access points foster an appreciation of healthy living.
Beautiful Examples of Mid-Century Modern Homes
Now that we’ve covered the basics of mid-century modern, let’s take a look at a few of the most iconic homes and structures built by some of the most influential architects in the 20th century.
The Barcelona Pavilion by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Less is more.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the stunning Barcelona Pavilion in Spain in 1929. This project was extremely influential, and continues to serve as an architectural vision even to this day.
The pavilion may have been intended to be a venue for German exhibitions, but Mies regarded the structure as merely a building. It didn’t hold any art or sculptures at the time. The pavilion functioned as a simple place of tranquility.
The pavilion sits on a travertine plinth. And its design is built on a formulaic grid system. It acts as a structure for both the sidewalls and the travertine tile patterns.
The four varieties of marble from the Swiss Alps and the Mediterranean are coupled with steel, chrome, and tinted glass shades. This creates spatial features. The sparkling reflections from the rectangular pools and the textures also help accentuate those elements.
The Litchfield House by Marcel Breuer
Completed in 1957, this Connecticut home was designed by legendary Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer. The home features various terraces as well as courtyards. It even has an internal greenhouse that serves as an extension of the living area.
The home’s main level has a massive glass-walled lounge room. It connects to a bluestone-paved patio with rooms for dining and entertainment. The main living space is an open plan. It includes the living room, dining area, and kitchen.
This downstairs bedroom is filled with natural materials from the hardwood floor to the stone walls behind the headboard. It also features a huge window with an access point to a terrace.
Gropius House by Walter Gropius
When Walter Gropius moved to the United States in the 1930s and went on to teach at Harvard, the architect built this family house in Massachusetts.
Completed in 1938, Gropius House used many of the region’s classic construction materials. The home was built with a combination of industrial materials and modern approaches.
Despite its small size, the home had a huge impact. In 1985, the house became a museum.
Breuer designed and produced the home’s furniture at Bauhaus workshops.
And as you can see in this space, the home offers a sense of spontaneity and connection. This is because the family’s belongings are still there.
Schindler House by Rudolph Schindler
This home was built in 1922 by Rudolf Schindler. His approach to deceptive simplicity was revealed at the onset of the construction process, as evidenced by subsequent restoration efforts. It’s a low-slung home with mostly concrete and wood.
This one is essentially an environment rather than a house.
The interiors are clean and simple, with wood and concrete defining the rooms.
Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House is among the most admired examples of mid-century modern homes. Constructed in 1946, this boxy two-story apartment contains several defining elements of modern architecture. This includes the flat roof, pale facade, and enclosed outdoor spaces.
The home is cross-shaped. It has a spacious living and dining room in the center and wings extending out in cardinal directions. There’s also a covered breezeway that leads to a kitchen. As well as utility rooms to the west and a master bedroom to the east.
Open and airy. This part of the house has large glass doors that lead to patios.
Farnsworth House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Another masterpiece by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The Farnsworth House was completed in 1951 in a suburb of Plano, Illinois.
One of the most fascinating things about this glass house is how modern it looks, even by today’s standards.
However, since it’s designed as a weekend getaway or vacation home, it did lack storage spaces, closets, as well as other essentials of full-time living. And this is something that the architect overlooked in pursuit of aesthetic perfection.
Mies’ design incorporated an all-glass facade. This allows the occupant to take full advantage of the natural beauty of the landscape.
Maison Louis Carré by Alvar Aalto
Completed in 1959 and built on the edge of the Rambouillet forest in Paris, the Maison Louis Carré is a work of art by Alvar Aalto. It is also the only construction by the Finnish architect in France, and one of his most famous estates.
Aalto planned all aspects of the architecture: from the furnishings to the landscaping, including the garage, access road, garage, and garden. The defining factor is that the home has a sloping roof rather than a flat roof. They blend in nicely with the landscape.
This open, living space of the house evokes a sense of calmness. By having potted plants inside, it’s literally bringing the outdoors in.
Glass House by Philip Johnson
This beautiful house glass is another example of a mid-century modern home that coexists with the nature around and in it. It was built by Philip Johnson in 1949 on an expansive property in Connecticut as a private weekend hideaway for the architect. The home is essentially a large room surrounded by green landscapes.
Some of the house’s interior parts have been repaired over the years. As Johnson himself envisioned, the breeze from the open doors makes this house a lovely retreat.
A Steel House by Donald Wexler
Modernist architect Donald Wexler thought that steel was suitable for desert construction. It was resistant to different elements and was cost-effective during the time.
In 1961, he envisioned a Palm Springs community of approximately 40 residences constructed entirely of prefabricated steel and glass. Wexler adapted a prefab classroom concept to produce elegant but economical homes. This humble abode is one of his beautiful creations.
FAQs
What is a mid-century modern home?
In interior design, mid-century modern homes are defined by clean lines, subdued tones and curves, and a blend of organic and synthetic materials. They also often have open floor plans with large windows. Such features aim to blend indoor and outdoor living.
What years are mid-century modern homes?
Mid-century modern homes were built between the end of World War II (1945) and the 1980s. These homes feature flat planes, huge glass windows, and open space, emphasizing simplicity and harmony with nature. The idea is to inspire residents to explore their environment in new ways.
