1. Modernism Project
INTB112 Design Basics 3D
Summer 2014
Eric Brissey
Table of Contents
Modern Concepts... ...1
Modern Painting Concept... ...2
Concept A... ...3
Concept B... ...4
Final Model... ...5
Work Cited... ...6

2. Modern Concepts
History of Modernism
Modernism started at the beginning of the 21th Century and had tendencies
to move toward newer, and more abstract design (3). In the 1920’s Modernism
was associated with new architecture from architects such as Otto Wagner, Peter
Behrens, and Frank Lloyd Wright which favored geometric shapes, simplistic forms,
and horizontal lines. Other architectural styles born from the Modernist Movement
included the International style, Cubism, and De Stijl which was based off paintings.
Modernists believed that embracing ideas, and utilizing new technology could solve
pressing problems faced by architects at the time (3). Thanks to manufacturing, more
people could gain access to Modern furnishings that used new materials like fiber glass,
plastics, and wood veneers. One expample of modern architecture is the Villa Savoye
which was designed by Le Corbusier in 1929 (4).
International Style: “Villa Savoye,” Le Corbusier, 1929 (5)
De Stijl Style: “Red and Blue Chair,” Gerrit Rietveld, 1918 (6)
1
Famous Modern Architects
Frank Llyod Wright
- Simple colors
- Geometric shapes
- Smooth surfaces
- Minimal details
Otto WagnerPeter Behrens
Le Corrbusier Gerrit Rietveld Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

3. Modern Painting Concept 2
“Raindrops #3,” Bruce Gray, 2006 (2)
“Raindrops #3,” Parish Square, Los Angeles, CA (2)
Design Concept: “Raindrops #3,” by Bruce Gray
Metal sculptor and abstract artist Bruce Gray was born in Orange, New Jersey in
1956 (1). He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.F.A. in Design in
1983 where he pursued a career in Graphic Design at an advertising agency in Boston
(1). He later came up with his own designs as he picked up metal sculpting where he
explored as many forms of artistic expression as he could (1). Artist that influence his
paintings included Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, Salvador Dali,
Jean Tinguely, Keith Haring, Joan Miro, and Frank Stella (1). For my Modernist project
I chose his abstract painting “Raindrops #3,” for the theme of my concept models. I like
this painting because it is geometrical, it has implied lines, and it uses simple shapes in
a unique way. There is asymmetrical balance, there is scale and proportion, there are
contrasting colors, and there is rhythm which I believe will make a harmonious design
concept for my Modernism models.
Model Design
My finished concept model design was influenced by the circles, and implied
lines found in Bruce Gray’s painting “Raindrops #3”. I positioned my circles and
cylinders based on the painting, and added vertical planes to represent the implied lines
that appear to cut the circles from above. The finished model will be colored according
to the painting to reinforce implied lines, and give contrast at the top of the model, where
the walls of different elements will be given single colors to imply they are separate.
This will give the illusion that the elements are protruding out of the painting. In order to
keep the building modern, I used smooth surfaces, geometrical shapes, asymmetrical
balance, and minimalism to give it a sharper more futuristic design. I have the entries
of the building connected to the courtyard in the center so there is a more radial path
throughout the structure that won’t be cut off by the vertical planes on the roofs.
9’ Wide Canvas

4. Concept A
Concept Model: Front View Concept Model: Rear View
Orthographic Sketches Concept Model: Side View
3
Vertical planes cut through geometric
forms to represent implied lines
in painting.
Textures and additional pieces
made to represent architectural
details of building.
Cylinders merged together to
represent circles in painting.

5. Concept B
Orthographic Sketches Concept Model: Front View
Concept Model: Rear View Isometric Sketch
4
Semicircular cuts through cylinders provide
a unique geometrical form with room for a
central gathering space.
Cylinders stacked on top of another to
add more verticality to circles on painting.
Both concept models provide the
optical illusion of the referenced
painting when viewed from above.

6. Final Model
Aerial View Side View
Rear View Top View
5
Walls of cylinders are kept as solid colors
just like in most Modern architecture to
simplify the complexity of the model.
Vertical planes use white so they
don’t become lost in the more
vibrant elements and provide
some visual relief.
Placement of horizontal lines provide an optical illusion of original painting.
Concept B was chosen as the template
for the final model. Which was made
taller, more colorful, and constructed
with foam core for
smoother surfaces.

7. Work Cited
Research Sources
1. “Biography of Los Angeles Metal Sculptor and Artist Bruce Gray.” (2014). Retrieved from Bruce Gray website:
http://www.brucegray.com/htmlfolder/biography.html
2. “Raindrops #3 Abstract Modern Painting on Canvas by Artist Bruce Gray.” (2006). Retrieved from Bruce Gray website:
http://www.brucegray.com/htmlfolder/html_subpages/raind3.html
3. Wilk, C. (2006). “Modernism Designing a New World.” V&A Publications: London, United Kingdom. (pages 11-21)
4. “Villa Savoye.” (2013). Retrieved from Great Buildings website:
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Villa_Savoye.html
5. “Villa Savoye Photo Sharing.” (2014). Retrieved from Favorites Home Design Ideas website:
http://www.favhomeideas.com/villa-savoye-villa-savoye-flickr-photo-sharing.html
6. Romeo, A. (n.d.). “Gerrit Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair and What I Learned about Rest and Motion in Myself.” Retrieved from Terrain Gallery website:
http://www.terraingallery.org/archive/Anthony-Romeo-Chair.html
Images
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36464802@N05/4292375823/in/photostream/lightbox/
http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Frank-Lloyd-Wright-Blog.jpg
http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/wp-content/common/photos_uk/02_peter-behrens.jpg
http://stschmidt04.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/otto-wagner.jpg
http://www.duic.nl/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/rietveld.jpg
http://inceptor.mcs.suffolk.edu/~goldenth/hw5/corbusier.jpg
http://www.nkfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Ludwig-Mies-van-der-Rohe.jpg
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