Arts & Crafts
Dates: Late 1800s to early 1900s
Examples: Art Nouveau, Prairie Style, California Bungalow, Art Deco, Vienna Secession, Glasgow School, Symbolism, American Four Square
Description: The Arts & Crafts architectural style emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the highly ornamented Revivalist styles and the impact of rapid industrialization. With its roots in Britain, led by figures like William Morris, the movement sought to counteract the dehumanizing effects of industrial mass production by emphasizing craftsmanship, simplicity, and natural materials. It celebrated traditional building techniques and the role of the craftsman, drawing inspiration from the guild systems that had preserved knowledge across generations.
Arts & Crafts architecture focused on harmony between a building and its surroundings, often prioritizing siting, climate adaptability, and integration with nature. Homes were designed to be warm, functional spaces for middle- and upper-middle-class families, with particular popularity in typologies like the bungalow, which emphasized simplicity, efficiency, and connection to the outdoors.
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Ornamentation was used sparingly and thoughtfully, enhancing structural features rather than overwhelming them, and often included hand-crafted details in wood, metal, and glass.
This movement also coincided with the professionalization of architecture and interior design, offering architects the freedom to create distinctive, personal styles and establish independent practices outside the patronage system. Frank Lloyd Wright exemplifies this shift, using Arts & Crafts principles to pioneer a uniquely American architectural language. Ultimately, the Arts & Crafts style served as a bridge to modern architecture, initiating a design philosophy that valued both functional beauty and social responsibility, paving the way for later innovations in modernist architecture.
