Editing Minimalism (section)

== Design, architecture, and spaces ==
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[[File:Barcelona Pavilion.jpg|thumb|The reconstruction of [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]]'s [[German Pavilion]] in [[Barcelona]]]]

The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in [[design]] and [[architecture]], wherein the subject is reduced to its necessary elements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sfetcu |first=Nicolae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXyFAwAAQBAJ&dq=The+term+minimalism+is+also+used+to+describe+a+trend+in+design+and+architecture%2C+wherein+the+subject+is+reduced+to+its+necessary+elements.&pg=PT630 |title=The Music Sound |date=2014-05-07 |publisher=Nicolae Sfetcu |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728210338/https://books.google.com/books?id=kXyFAwAAQBAJ&dq=The+term+minimalism+is+also+used+to+describe+a+trend+in+design+and+architecture,+wherein+the+subject+is+reduced+to+its+necessary+elements.&pg=PT630 |url-status=live }}</ref> Minimalist architectural designers focus on effectively using vacant space, neutral colors, and eliminating decoration,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kamal |first1=Mohammad |last2=Nasir |first2=Osama |date=2022 |title=Minimalism in architecture: a basis for resource conservation and sustainable development |journal=Facta universitatis - series: Architecture and Civil Engineering |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=277–300 |doi=10.2298/fuace221105021k |issn=0354-4605|doi-access=free }}</ref> emphasizing materiality, tactility, texture, weight, and density.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vasilski |first=Dragana |date=2016 |title=On minimalism in architecture - space as experience |url=https://doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?ID=1450-569X1636061V |journal=Spatium |issue=36 |pages=61–66}}</ref> Minimalist architecture became popular in the late 1980s in London and New York,{{sfn|Cerver|1997|pp=8–11}} whereby architects and fashion designers worked together in the boutiques to achieve simplicity, using white elements, cold lighting, and large spaces with minimal furniture and few decorative elements.

The works of [[De Stijl]] artists are a major reference: De Stijl expanded the ideas of expression by meticulously organizing basic elements such as lines and planes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=De Stijl Movement Overview |url=https://www.theartstory.org/movement/de-stijl/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=The Art Story |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009060907/https://www.theartstory.org/movement/de-stijl/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1924, The [[Rietveld Schroder House]] was commissioned by [[Truus Schröder-Schräder]], a precursor to minimalism. The house emphasizes its slabs, beams and posts reflecting De Stijl's philosophy on the relationship between form and function.<ref name=":0" /> With regard to home design, more attractive "minimalistic" designs are not truly minimalistic because they are larger, and use more expensive building materials and finishes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-06 |title=Define height – TELLAS |url=https://www.tellas.org/portfolio/define-height/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |language=it-IT}}</ref>

[[File:2004-09-02 1580x2800 chicago IBM building.jpg|thumb|[[330 North Wabash]] in Chicago, a minimalist building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]]
Minimalistic design has been highly influenced by [[Japanese architecture|Japanese traditional design and architecture]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vasilski |first=Dragana |date=2015 |title=Minimalism in architecture: Abstract conceptualization of architecture |journal=Arhitektura I Urbanizam |issue=40 |pages=16–23 |doi=10.5937/a-u0-6858 |issn=0354-6055 |doi-access=free}}</ref> There are observers{{Who|date=October 2024}} who describe the emergence of minimalism as a response to the brashness and chaos of urban life. For example, minimalist architecture began to gain traction in 1980s Japan as a result of the country's rising population and rapid expansion of cities.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025|reason=No given evidence of this being true}} The design was considered an antidote to the "overpowering presence of traffic, advertising, jumbled building scales, and imposing roadways."<ref>{{cite book |title = The Fractal Dimension of Architecture | title-link= The Fractal Dimension of Architecture |last1=Ostwald |first1=Michael |last2=Vaughan |first2=Josephine |series = Mathematics and the Built Environment |publisher=Birkhäuser; Springer International Publishing|year=2016 |isbn=9783319324241 |location = Cham, Switzerland |page=316 }}</ref> The chaotic environment was not only driven by urbanization, industrialization, and technology but also the Japanese experience of constantly having to demolish structures on account of the destruction wrought by World War II and the earthquakes, including the calamities it entails such as fire. The minimalist design philosophy did not arrive in Japan by way of another country, as it was already part of the Japanese culture rooted on the Zen philosophy. There are those who specifically attribute the design movement to Japan's spirituality and view of nature.{{sfn|Cerver|1997|page=13}}

Architect [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]] (1886–1969) adopted the motto "Less is more" to describe his aesthetic.{{efn|See {{harvnb|Johnson|1947}}. A similar sentiment was conveyed by industrial designer [[Dieter Rams]]' motto, "Less but better."}} His tactic was one of arranging the necessary components of a building to create an impression of extreme simplicity—he enlisted every element and detail to serve multiple visual and functional purposes; for example, designing a floor to also serve as the radiator, or a massive fireplace to also house the bathroom. Designer [[Buckminster Fuller]] (1895–1983) adopted the engineer's goal of "Doing more with less", but his concerns were oriented toward technology and engineering rather than aesthetics.{{sfn|Johnson|1947|p=49}}

=== Concepts and design elements ===
The concept of minimalist architecture is to strip everything down to its essential quality and achieve simplicity.{{sfn|Bertoni|2002|p=10}} The idea is not completely without ornamentation,<ref name="Rossell">{{harvnb|Rossell|2005|p=6}}</ref> but that all parts, details, and joinery are considered as reduced to a stage where no one can remove anything further to improve the design.<ref name="Pawson">{{harvnb|Pawson|1996|p=7}}</ref>

The considerations for 'essences' are light, form, detail of material, space, place, and human condition.<ref name="Bertoni15-16">{{harvnb|Bertoni|2002|pp=15–16}}</ref> Minimalist architects not only consider the physical qualities of the building. They consider the spiritual dimension and the invisible, by listening to the figure and paying attention to details, people, space, nature, and materials,<ref name="Bertoni21">{{harvnb|Bertoni|2002|p=21}}</ref> believing this reveals the abstract quality of something that is invisible and aids the search for the essence of those invisible qualities—such as natural light, sky, earth, and air. In addition, they "open a dialogue" with the surrounding environment to decide the most essential materials for the construction and create relationships between buildings and sites.<ref name="Rossell"/>

In minimalist architecture, design elements strive to convey the message of simplicity. The basic geometric forms, elements without decoration, simple materials, and the repetitions of structures represent a sense of order and essential quality.{{sfn|Pawson|1996|p=8}} The movement of natural light in buildings reveals simple and clean spaces.<ref name="Bertoni15-16"/> In the late 19th century as the arts and crafts movement became popular in Britain, people valued the attitude of 'truth to materials' with respect to the profound and innate characteristics of materials.{{sfn|Saito|2007|pp=87–88}} Minimalist architects humbly 'listen to figure', seeking essence and simplicity by rediscovering the valuable qualities in simple and common materials.<ref name="Bertoni21"/>

=== Influences from Japanese tradition ===
{{See also|Japanese architecture}}
[[File:RyoanJi-Dry garden.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Ryōan-ji|{{transliteration|ja|Ryōan-ji}}]] dry garden. The clay wall, which is stained by age with subtle brown and orange tones, reflects "{{transliteration|ja|wabi}}" and the rock garden "{{transliteration|ja|sabi}}", together reflecting the Japanese worldview or aesthetic of "[[wabi-sabi|{{transliteration|ja|wabi-sabi}}]]".<ref>{{lang|ja|森神逍遥 『侘び然び幽玄のこころ』桜の花出版、2015年}} Morigami Shouyo, "{{transliteration|ja|Wabi sabi yugen no kokoro: seiyo tetsugaku o koeru joi ishiki}}" (Japanese) {{ISBN|978-4434201424}}</ref>]]

The idea of simplicity appears in many cultures, especially the Japanese traditional culture of [[Zen Buddhist]] philosophy. Japanese manipulate the Zen culture into aesthetic and design elements for their buildings.{{sfn|Saito|2007|pp=85–97}} This idea of architecture has influenced Western society, especially in America since the mid-18th century.{{sfn|Lancaster|1953|pp=217–224}} Moreover, it inspired the minimalist architecture in the 19th century.<ref name="Pawson" />

Zen concepts of simplicity transmit the ideas of freedom and essence of living.<ref name="Pawson"/> Simplicity is not only an aesthetic value, it has a moral perception that looks into the nature of truth and reveals the inner qualities and essence of materials and objects.{{sfn|Saito|2007|p=87}} For example, the [[sand garden]] in [[Ryōan-ji|{{transliteration|ja|Ryōan-ji}}]] temple demonstrates the concepts of simplicity and the essentiality from the considered setting of a few stones and a huge empty space.{{sfn|Pawson|1996|p=98}}

The Japanese aesthetic principle of [[Ma (negative space)|{{transliteration|ja|Ma}}]] refers to empty or open space. It removes all the unnecessary internal walls and opens up the space. The emptiness of spatial arrangement reduces everything down to the most essential quality.{{sfn|Bertoni|2002|p=23}}

The Japanese aesthetic of [[wabi-sabi|{{transliteration|ja|wabi-sabi}}]] values the quality of simple and plain objects.{{sfn|Saito|2007|p=85}} It appreciates the absence of unnecessary features, treasures a life in quietness, and aims to reveal the innate character of materials.{{sfn|Pawson|1996|pp=10–11}} For example, the Japanese floral art of [[Ikebana|{{transliteration|ja|ikebana}}]] has the central principle of letting the flower express itself. People cut off the branches, leaves, and blossoms from the plants and only retain the essential part of the plant. This conveys the idea of essential quality and innate character in nature.{{sfn|Saito|2007|p=86}}

=== Minimalist architects and their works ===
The Japanese minimalist architect [[Tadao Ando]] conveys the Japanese traditional spirit and his own perception of nature in his works. His design concepts are materials, pure geometry, and nature. He normally uses concrete or natural wood and basic structural form to achieve austerity and rays of light in space. He also sets up a dialogue between the site and nature to create relationship and order with the buildings.{{sfn|Bertoni|2002|pp=96–106}} Ando's works and the translation of Japanese aesthetic principles are highly influential on Japanese architecture.{{sfn|Cerver|1997|p=13}}

Another Japanese minimalist architect, [[Kazuyo Sejima]], works on her own and in conjunction with [[Ryue Nishizawa]], as [[SANAA]], producing iconic Japanese Minimalist buildings. Credited with creating and influencing a particular genre of Japanese Minimalism,<ref>Puglisi, L. P. (2008), ''New Directions in Contemporary Architecture'', Chichester, John Wiley and Sons.</ref> Sejimas delicate, intelligent designs may use white color, thin construction sections and transparent elements to create the phenomenal building type often associated with minimalism. Works include [[New Museum]] (2010) New York City, Small House (2000) Tokyo, and House surrounded By Plum Trees (2003) Tokyo.

In Vitra Conference Pavilion, Weil am Rhein, 1993, the concepts are to bring together the relationships between building, human movement, site, and [[nature]]. Which as one main point of minimalism ideology that establish dialogue between the building and site. The building uses the simple forms of circle and rectangle to contrast the filled and void space of the interior and nature. In the foyer, there is a large landscape window that looks out to the exterior. This achieves the simple and silence of architecture and enhances the light, wind, time, and nature in space.{{sfn|Cerver|1997|pp=18–29}}

[[John Pawson]] is a British minimalist architect; his design concepts are soul, light, and order. He believes that though reduced clutter and simplification of the interior to a point that gets beyond the idea of essential quality, there is a sense of clarity and richness of simplicity instead of emptiness. The materials in his design reveal the perception toward space, surface, and volume. Moreover, he likes to use natural materials because of their aliveness, sense of depth and quality of an individual. He is also attracted by the important influences from Japanese Zen Philosophy.{{sfn|Pawson|1996|pp=10–14}}

Calvin Klein Madison Avenue, [[New York City|New York]], 1995–96, is a boutique that conveys Calvin Klein's ideas of fashion. John Pawson's interior design concepts for this project are to create simple, peaceful and orderly spatial arrangements. He used stone floors and white walls to achieve simplicity and harmony for space. He also emphasises reduction and eliminates the visual distortions, such as the air conditioning, and lamps, to achieve a sense of purity for the interior.{{sfn|Cerver|1997|pp=170–177}}

[[Alberto Campo Baeza]] is a Spanish architect and describes his work as essential architecture. He values the concepts of light, idea, and space. Light is essential and achieves the relationship between inhabitants and the building. Ideas are to meet the function and context of space, forms, and construction. Space is shaped by the minimal geometric forms to avoid decoration that is not essential.{{sfn|Bertoni|2002|p=182}}
While both minimalist and contemporary minimalism stress simplicity, there are some significant differences. Minimalism emphasizes only the essentials and employs simple, large-sized components in less amounts. Modern minimalism, on the other hand, uses more decorative pieces. While modern minimalism includes eye-catching forms, minimalist designs tend to emphasize geometric shapes and straight lines. Another difference is space; modern minimalism permits trendy items, while minimalist environments are open and empty. While modern minimalism incorporates colorful, seductive elements that accentuate the modern aesthetic while keeping a neutral color scheme, minimalist furniture is necessary and practical. Although simplicity is emphasized in both forms, modern minimalism adds trends and gives places a more lively vibe. It is easier to differentiate between the two types when one is aware of these distinctions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.designqandy.com/blogs/minimalism-and-contemporary-minimalism-whats-the-difference/|title=Minimalism and contemporary minimalism, What's the difference?|date=13 February 2025|access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>