Mid-Century Modern Design

Mid-century modern design elements have experienced resurgence in popularity in recent years. It’s no wonder – the style is known for its simple, clean and multi-purpose focus. Let’s explore the origins of mid-century modern design and the reasons this popular style is finding a new audience.

Mid-century modern design developed as an architectural, interior design, product, and graphic design movement during the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Following World War II, designers developed exuberant new designs which took advantage of new materials and technology developed during the war years. These ideas were incorporated into everything from buildings to accessories which captured the imagination of American consumers.

The mid-century modern style was named by author Cara Greenberg in her 1984 book Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s (Harmony Books, Crown Publishers, Inc., New York). The style is recognized today as a significant design movement, whose inventive elements can play a key role in enlivening modern spaces.

In recent years, the mid-century modern style has received increasing interest from designers and consumers. We think it resonates with audiences because of its multi-purpose focus and simplified, modern lines. Or perhaps it is due in part to the popular television series “Mad Men” which features mid-century modern settings.

During the mid-century modern period, the architectural style was characterized by simplicity, integration with nature, flat planes, large windows, and open spaces. The style’s current popularity has led to the development of new interpretations in both furnishings and architecture. These new interpretations have simple, clean lines and utilize attractive natural materials.

At the new Shakou restaurant in St. Charles, we are taking cues from mid-century modern design on the building exterior. The Shakou brand is known for its modern Japanese cuisine and a cosmopolitan, sleek environment. Shakou, Japanese for “social life”, has received many awards and has been named one of the Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants in America by Open Table. The design of the new restaurant in St. Charles compliments and reinforces the Shakou brand: sophisticated, modern, and urbane.

We are remodeling a 50’s era building which had undergone a couple of previous remodeling efforts. 80’s-era applied architectural elements were removed to reveal a plain masonry and glass façade on the street-side. The stack-bond masonry wall was restored and existing window openings were fitted with new aluminum-frame windows. Street-level windows feature glass fitted into a grid, in a nod to Japanese style. The existing second story window openings were fitted with new windows and were joined visually with stone panels to suggest a ribbon window. Bold natural wood beam elements project outward from the brick above both sets of windows. These elements join the two levels visually and provide dimensionality and a shadow line to the flat façade. The reimagined façade is a new, aggressively modern interpretation of the mid-century modern genre.

Mid-century modern design is a natural choice in contemporary buildings which focus on simple, clean design elements. It’s not surprising that the style has experienced renewed popularity with new audiences and has experienced resurgence in recent years.