Organic Design

1930 – 1960 & 1990

Present

Organic Design is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through the design approaches of buildings, furnishings, and products; which are sympathetic to their surroundings.

Forms from nature influence products.

The term “Organic Architecture” was coined by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959).

The term organic design was made popular by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This organic design is mostly applied in architecture, but also in types such as furniture, art, industry and typography.

Organic design ensures harmony between man-made and nature. For this adaptation, we use natural materials and the forms are made by giving curves smoothly.

A well-known example of organic architecture is Fallingwater, the residence Frank Lloyd Wright designed in rural Pennsylvania. Think also of the Sydney Opera House, and of the designers Alvar Aalto and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

There is inspiration from nature. Forms begin to take curvilinear forms, (fluid form). In furniture design there is a deformation according to human shape.

Modernism is human fiction. It is done by moving away from nature and putting everything in a mathematical and logical way. But organic design is slowly evolving from the modernism rigid rules.

Energy conservation, renewable resources, recycling, natural materials and local economies are important for modern organic designers. They design by considering these factors.

Principles Of Organic Design

Form follows function

The influence of nature

The process of evolution

The finished product as a unified whole

Harmony (man-made and natural worlds)

Organic designers often use an amorphous form that appears natural. It leaves behind classical heavy weight-bearing structures and adopts constructions that seem to be more elastic and free.

Recurrent methods include flowing lines and soft shapes, asymmetrical construction, plastic volumes and dynamic forms.