Design: The Remix

I had a bit of trouble thinking of an idea for this weeks assignment, but I think I've managed to stumble across a rather good one while on the bus.

With the emergence of the Postmodern design era, a resurgence of what is essentially the rococo ideal has also occurred. This in conjunction with the fact that many designers now are looking at the state of our planet, and realising that for design to be sustainable it needs to be 'eco-friendly', has led to a new form of design. Seeking to lessen the impact of design on nature, many designers are employing natures' forms and principles in their work. One such example is the design for an eco-friendly resort, as shown above. It is obvious to see that this design is based on a droplet of water, and exhibits the smooth curves characteristic of rococo-based design. The building is designed to take in solar energy via solar panels, and then uses this energy to convert the condensation and humid air that is used to ventilate the building into drinkable water. The design employs an obvious manipulation of scale in making the building a huge drop of water, and the shape of the design itself is relevant to the buildings purpose and the message it sends to the world.

On a final note; a view held by many is that there is a 'design pendulum' constantly swinging back and forth between the rectilinear, classical inspired design and the more relaxed, fun and sensuous rococo based design. Although this has been mainly true up til this point, I believe that we are getting to a point of equilibrium. We are approaching a time where both types of design are widely accepted and each are assessed on their own merits. Maybe some day soon, there will be a marriage of the two styles, and a new style will emerge.