Ecological minimalism in the architecture of modern individual
residential buildings
Ecological minimalism as a style is gaining popularity. It creates an opportunity
to feel the soft warmth of wood with your hand, to sink your feet in a fluffy carpet with a long pile, rest your eyes from endless interaction with gadgets, looking at a bright spot of greenery. And all this in a space where there is nothing superfluous.
In the early 1920s, a group of Dutch architects and artists organized the movement De
Stijl. They formulated the principles of the new direction in art, called neoplasticism. The basis of creativity was the ideas of functionalism, simple geometric shapes, and open colors. All these approaches manifested themselves in the exterior and the interior of the Schroeder House, designed by the architect Rietveld, a member of the group. The plasticity of the facades is created by a combination of rectangular and cubic volumes. The house has a free layout, transformable partitions, functional geometric interior details, and elements highlighted with contrasting colors.
The ideas of minimalism were developed in his work by Mies van der Rohe. In designing private houses the architect takes the walls outside the building, inscribes them in the differences in the relief, and connects them with the natural environment. Large glazed planes contrast with blank facades. The architect uses the beauty and reflective properties of natural stone. The layout has a division into functional zones of the residential and economic parts, spaces rooms smoothly flow into each other. These principles manifested themselves in the architecture exhibition pavilion in Barcelona, Villa Tugendhat in the Czech Republic, and in other works of Mies.
Characteristic features of minimalism
The style of minimalism is characterized by:
- Laconic geometric volumes: cubes, parallelepipeds;
- Simplicity and functional justification of structures;
- A combination of deaf massifs of walls and stained-glass windows;
- Beauty is achieved not by embellishment, but by thoughtful proportions and mean expressive details;
- Materials used: concrete, brick, glass, chromed metal
Components of minimalism in the interior:
- Open plan;
- Functional zoning of the internal space;
- The abundance of light due to wide glazing;
- The use of color combinations of two or three light shades: white, gray, milky, beige;
- The furniture is simple, geometric, and monochrome.
Eco minimalism is a style for people who love nature.
For those who want to cherish and live in unity with her.
Ecological minimalism appeared as an interpenetration of minimalism and ecological style.
Its main idea is unity with nature, and respect for the environment. Unlike modernist buildings aggressively invading the natural landscape, eco-houses
minimalism seems to grow out of it.
The relief is actively used. From the side of the street, the building looks like a deaf fence. In
In the courtyard, stained glass windows reveal the interior space to the surrounding nature.
Smooth flow of the landscape inside the house due to wide windows, and outdoor terraces create conditions for a good rest. The operated green roof compensates for the removed vegetation in the building spot. Eco houses are often equipped with solar panels, heated by the heat of the earth or water using special pumps.
While retaining the features of the previous style, eco-minimalism uses more natural
materials and greenery. Direction features:
- The building is inscribed in the relief;
- Simple forms, following natural lines;
- Visual connection of external space and interior;
- Plenty of natural light and soft artificial lighting;
- Finishing with natural materials: brick, natural stone, wood;
- An abundance of greenery in the interior, including live green panels;
- A variety of tactile sensations due to the roughness of the textures of finishing materials in the interior: wood, stone, wool;
- The color palette is dominated by light shades and colors of natural materials, as well as light blue and green;
- Plastic and metal are not used.
