Minimalism is a movement, having gained popularity among architects and designers, in which various forms of design capture and expose the essence of a subject through the elimination of all non-essential features. This philosophy is one that has transcended from design and architecture into other realms of life. Minimalism is often a helpful practice as the elimination of the inessential and unnecessary clutter can help improve focus and presence on what's truly important.
As technology continues to intervene at every stage of human life in the twenty-first century, technological distractions are increasingly more common. Older generations especially, find the division of attention between mobile technology and the task at hand to be not only distracting, but also disrespectful. This trend is inversely proportional to the increasing popularity of minimalism; yet, minimalism is embraced by both older and younger generations. Perhaps this contradictory behavior among cohorts of generation Y stems from an attempt to disassociate themselves from the interruptive aspects of the technological world.
Modernism is closely tied to minimalism in many aspects, as modernism attempts to simplify form and is characterized by the absence of decoration. A common theme embedded in modern architecture is the notion that "form follows function". Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright's early mentor, originally expressed this belief. Simplicity, clarity, and exposure of structural elements are other common characteristics. Exposure of structural elements such as beams and trusses are prominent in modern structures.
Although modernism often embraces technology, it's frequently done in a way to improve on minimalistic approaches. Following World War I, modernization was characterized by the adoption of the machine aesthetic. At this time, glorification of technological advancement was also prominent. World War II had a major impact on the expansion of architectural possibilities. The wartime industrial spark drove innovation in building technology. Modern architecture continued to develop, but was certainly not met without opposition. Critics of the style voiced their opinions in the 1960's on the grounds that it seemed universal and lacked meaning. Architects explored postmodern architecture and by the 1980's postmodern architecture trended over modernism. Design characteristics attempted to move away from rectilinear styles, focusing on entropy of architectural styles. By the 1990's, postmodern architecture failed to gain significant traction, resulting in a resurgence of modern architecture. Tuscany Luxury Builders has worked with engineers and designers in the past to create marvelous modern homes across the United States. Tuscany Luxury Builders created the dream home for the national league all-star, Gary Sheffield. Sheffield said he was "tremendously impressed with Tuscany Luxury Builders." Tuscany Luxury Builders is in the business of making dreams come true!