![]() ![]() Sputnik 1’s minimalistic, futuristic look was nothing short of iconic and would be a strong influence throughout the entire Atomic Age craze. ![]() In 1957, the USSR surprised the world with the launch of Sputnik 1, Earth’s first artificial satellite. New age materials like fiberglass, plastic, Plexiglass, molded plywood, Lucite, acrylics, and more opened up a world of exciting, new possibilities for furniture designers.įurniture designers, just like the rest of the population, were fascinated with the Space Race. When the war was over many of these innovative materials became more readily available – as did the possibilities of using them in a variety of new ways. To fill this void, new – and often cheaper – alternatives were created. Bringing Space Age Design HomeĪlong with the war effort came a lack of available materials domestically. The slight curve of the sofa and the sophisticated palette leave little else to want. Only a 20-pound chunk of the 7-ton Sputnik satellite survived its crash to Earth in Wisconsin. Designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd is known for her more-is-more approach when it comes to color, but in this minimal living room she played with subtlety and shape instead of a harmony of hues. Hope and excitement in new possibilities reigned as the country strived to look past the destruction of WWII. To add to the atomic fever, there was also a growing competition between two world powers, the US and the USSR, in reaching an entirely new frontier, space. Many had become fascinated by the prospect of nuclear power – an energy source with seemingly endless possibilities that would make their lives better. The war effort around the world had immensely helped in developing new technology. On a human level, the world was desperate for a new start – and a brighter future. People had little money to spend and the materials previously used to build and furnish homes were scarce and expensive. The end of WWII left much of the world in a deep financial slump further degraded by a drop in manufacturing and production. To understand why there was such a huge swing in popularity toward all things futuristic, you have to take a step back and look at the socio-economic state of the world during this period. ![]() Photo from IKEA Catalog, circa late 1960’s. The average living room size in a 1,300-1,800 square foot home falls around 340 square feet (or thirty-one square meters). ![]()
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