The 1960s and 1970s saw unprecedented progressive changes in society -- and this spawned a wave of radical ideas from architects, who were creating out-of-the-world concepts in response to the major shifts taking place across the world. San Francisco "alternative architectural practice" Ant Farm created pieces that blurred the lines between architecture and performance. In the late 1960s the group conducted a series of experiments using inflatables, like the one here.
Parachute experiment by Ant Farm —
The 1960s and 1970s saw unprecedented progressive changes in society -- and this spawned a wave of radical ideas from architects, who were creating out-of-the-world concepts in response to the major shifts taking place across the world. San Francisco "alternative architectural practice" Ant Farm created pieces that blurred the lines between architecture and performance. In the late 1960s the group conducted a series of experiments using inflatables, like the one here.
Ant Farm
The "inflatable" theme was present in many of Ant Farm's works. In the 1970s, the practice was commissioned to build "The House of the Century" in Texas, which co-founder Chip Lord describes as "an inflatable made into stone."
The House of the Century (1971) by Ant Farm —
The "inflatable" theme was present in many of Ant Farm's works. In the 1970s, the practice was commissioned to build "The House of the Century" in Texas, which co-founder Chip Lord describes as "an inflatable made into stone."
Ant Farm/ Courtesy of Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives
It was built using ferrocement, a layer of cement applied over wired mesh. The shape of the house pays homage to the developments in space during the time period -- namely the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
The House of the Century (1971) by Ant Farm —
It was built using ferrocement, a layer of cement applied over wired mesh. The shape of the house pays homage to the developments in space during the time period -- namely the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
Ant Farm
Commissioned by a friend of Chip Lord's, the house stood on the edge of a man-made lake in Texas.
The House of the Century (1971) by Ant Farm —
Commissioned by a friend of Chip Lord's, the house stood on the edge of a man-made lake in Texas.
Ant Farm/ Courtesy of Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives
Later on, Ant Farm had moved into "the realm of the radically changing art world of the 1970s." Their creations ranged from performance and video to sculpture and public art. Inspired by the prevalence of TV in everyday life, "Media Burn" featured a Cadillac being driven into burning TV sets. The set was inspired by typical TV news coverage of a space launch.
Media Burn (1975) by Ant Farm —
Later on, Ant Farm had moved into "the realm of the radically changing art world of the 1970s." Their creations ranged from performance and video to sculpture and public art. Inspired by the prevalence of TV in everyday life, "Media Burn" featured a Cadillac being driven into burning TV sets. The set was inspired by typical TV news coverage of a space launch.
Ant Farm
Like their other works, "Media Burn" addressed changes in American culture as well as the influence of mass media.
Media Burn (1975) by Ant Farm —
Like their other works, "Media Burn" addressed changes in American culture as well as the influence of mass media.
(B&W) Diane Andrews Hall
This installation -- which still stands today in Amarillo, Texas -- was created using old Cadillac automobiles from 1949 to 1963. It was inspired by the death of the tailfin design on Cadillacs, a signature feature that had been continued by 1965.
Cadillac Ranch (1974) by Ant Farm —
This installation -- which still stands today in Amarillo, Texas -- was created using old Cadillac automobiles from 1949 to 1963. It was inspired by the death of the tailfin design on Cadillacs, a signature feature that had been continued by 1965.
Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images
It was created by co-founders Chip Lord and Doug Michels, with artist Hudson Marquez. "We had all grown up in the post-war years and were 'car nuts' following the design changes introduced each year," remembers Lord.
Cadillac Ranch (1974) by Ant Farm —
It was created by co-founders Chip Lord and Doug Michels, with artist Hudson Marquez. "We had all grown up in the post-war years and were 'car nuts' following the design changes introduced each year," remembers Lord.
Ant Farm
In Ant Farm's early days, the group created a series of experiments with inflatables, which became a running theme in many of their later works.
Parachute experiment by Ant Farm —
In Ant Farm's early days, the group created a series of experiments with inflatables, which became a running theme in many of their later works.
Ant Farm
"We photographed and (made collages of) these physical experiments to expand on our architectural ideas," Lord says.
Parachute experiment by Ant Farm —
"We photographed and (made collages of) these physical experiments to expand on our architectural ideas," Lord says.
Ant Farm
Their creation of inflatables were documented in "Inflatocookbook", published in the 1970s. Lord says that the book is used by architectural schools today.
Parachute experiment by Ant Farm —
Their creation of inflatables were documented in "Inflatocookbook", published in the 1970s. Lord says that the book is used by architectural schools today.
Ant Farm
"Utopian architecture" was the name of the game at architectural firm Haus-Rucker Co, founded in Vienna and active from 1967 to 1992. Oasis No. 7, closely related to the firm's first design "Balloon for Two", is an inflatable structure made of PVC. The bubble features a steel structure supporting two palm trees.
Oasis No. 7 (1972) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
"Utopian architecture" was the name of the game at architectural firm Haus-Rucker Co, founded in Vienna and active from 1967 to 1992. Oasis No. 7, closely related to the firm's first design "Balloon for Two", is an inflatable structure made of PVC. The bubble features a steel structure supporting two palm trees.
It was a design that was considered visionary for the time period, says Gunter Zamp Kelp, one of the founders of Haus-Rucker-Co. It was first exhibited in Kassel, Germany. In 2008, the design was reproduced for an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Two years later, it was installed at Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg.
Oasis No. 7 (1972) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
It was a design that was considered visionary for the time period, says Gunter Zamp Kelp, one of the founders of Haus-Rucker-Co. It was first exhibited in Kassel, Germany. In 2008, the design was reproduced for an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Two years later, it was installed at Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
"Balloon for Two" was the very first architectural design unveiled by the firm, featuring an inflatable PVC bubble that is capable of sitting on the facade of an existing structure. It comes with seating inside that accommodates two people. The concept was created to encourage communication between people -- and in this instance, between two.
Balloon for Two (1967) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
"Balloon for Two" was the very first architectural design unveiled by the firm, featuring an inflatable PVC bubble that is capable of sitting on the facade of an existing structure. It comes with seating inside that accommodates two people. The concept was created to encourage communication between people -- and in this instance, between two.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
The design formed part of a series dubbed the "Mind Expanding Program," which Haus-Rucker-Co hoped would create new experiences for people through architecture.
Balloon for Two (1967) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
The design formed part of a series dubbed the "Mind Expanding Program," which Haus-Rucker-Co hoped would create new experiences for people through architecture.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
Haus-Rucker-Co created this project in response to increasing air pollution. It was exhibited at the Museum Haus Lange and Museum Haus Esters in Germany -- originally villas built in 1928 by German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The exhibition consisted of the museums being covered by a spherical translucent cover made of reinforced PVC. <br />
Cover -- Survival in a Polluted Environment (1971) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
Haus-Rucker-Co created this project in response to increasing air pollution. It was exhibited at the Museum Haus Lange and Museum Haus Esters in Germany -- originally villas built in 1928 by German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The exhibition consisted of the museums being covered by a spherical translucent cover made of reinforced PVC.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
The dome covering the museums can be seen here.
Cover -- Survival in a Polluted Environment (1971) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
The dome covering the museums can be seen here.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
The dome pictured from afar. As part of the project, Haus-Rucker-Co also created conceptual drawings depicting climate-controlled spaces.
Cover -- Survival in a Polluted Environment (1971) by Haus-Rucker-Co —
The dome pictured from afar. As part of the project, Haus-Rucker-Co also created conceptual drawings depicting climate-controlled spaces.
Gunter Zamp Kelp
UK collective Archigram, headed by Peter Cook, was known for its radical city plans and out-of-the-world designs. One of its most famous works was "Plug-in City," created by Cook. In the design, construction cranes would be used as permanent buildings, like offices and homes.
Plug-in City (1964) by Archigram —
UK collective Archigram, headed by Peter Cook, was known for its radical city plans and out-of-the-world designs. One of its most famous works was "Plug-in City," created by Cook. In the design, construction cranes would be used as permanent buildings, like offices and homes.
Imaging Services, MoMA, N.Y.
Cook says one of the Archigram designs that stood out for him was "Walking City," created by the late Ron Herron. It involves the construction of giant robotic structures with artificial intelligence that are capable of roaming around a city to wherever their skills are needed. It also proposes building cities that are capable of connecting with each other to form a "walking metropolis," which can also detach when needed.
Walking City (1964) by Archigram —
Cook says one of the Archigram designs that stood out for him was "Walking City," created by the late Ron Herron. It involves the construction of giant robotic structures with artificial intelligence that are capable of roaming around a city to wherever their skills are needed. It also proposes building cities that are capable of connecting with each other to form a "walking metropolis," which can also detach when needed.
Imaging Services, MoMA, N.Y.
Italian architect and designer Alessandro Mendini is behind the iconic "Proust" chair, which he created in 1978 after coming across chair designs from the Italian neo-baroque era in the late 19th century. The chair was considered revolutionary for the time period owing to the way it combined form and function -- such as the fixed multi-color fabric, which matches the colors of the base of the chair. "Proust" became his best-known work, and many modern revivals and recreations have been made.
Proust chair (1978) by Alessandro Mendini —
Italian architect and designer Alessandro Mendini is behind the iconic "Proust" chair, which he created in 1978 after coming across chair designs from the Italian neo-baroque era in the late 19th century. The chair was considered revolutionary for the time period owing to the way it combined form and function -- such as the fixed multi-color fabric, which matches the colors of the base of the chair. "Proust" became his best-known work, and many modern revivals and recreations have been made.
Jacques Brinon/AP
Alessandro Mendini also co-designed the Groningen art museum in the Netherlands -- but not in a way you may think. The three pavilions that make up this postmodern building were individually designed by Medini; fellow architect Philippe Starck; and Vienna-based architectural firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.
Alessandro Mendini also co-designed the Groningen art museum in the Netherlands -- but not in a way you may think. The three pavilions that make up this postmodern building were individually designed by Medini; fellow architect Philippe Starck; and Vienna-based architectural firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.
Moritz Vennemann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP