Hypersonic

Minimalism originally was an abstract art movement that began sometime in the 1950's that had it's roots in the work of early twentieth century Artists like Kasimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian - it also spread to spacial design - innitially it was a relatively experimental idea, true minimalist interior design was considerred to be the height of intellectual Modernism in the 1970's. True minimalism is extremely severe - In the 1980's people like the Japanese architect Shiro Kuramata, designers Rei Kawakubo and Issey Miyake started to popularize the ideas of minimalism. Their "Post-Modern" variation of minimalism became a "style" rather than an academic exercise. Soon designers like Philippe Starck and Antonio Citterio were steering a whole new generation of designers towards a style of boldly designed objects that were stripped of surface decoration.

The term today has become over-used and quite generic - one might describe the current trend as "decadent minimalism" or "Neo-Baroque minimalism" - in reality there is very little that is minimal about it - it has become a rather empty description for a rather superficial design trend.

The famous American painter Ellsworth Kelly was part of the minimalist "Hard Edge" movement. This is a work from 1951, which makes it a very early example of mid-century minimalist art..



This glass chair from the 1970's was designed by the Japanese architect Shiro Kuramata - Kuramata became one of the most influential designers of the 1980's. He died in 1991.


This chair (below left) was designed in 1918 by the Dutch architect Gerrit Rietved - minimalism has it's roots in work like this. Rietveld's "Zick Zack" chair on the right was designed in 1934.


Today minimalism (or at least, a less severe version of minimalism) has become a very fashionable "look" for interior decoration. This is a bath made by the well known Italian manufacturer Boffi.

Curb Zone

 

warot

No it's not a bad thing... minimalist means that they went for the minimum necessary if that makes sense? It's to have things as bare as possible instead of having everything crowded.

Roberto, I meant the dashboard itself. I see what you mean though with the designo interior, but I was more focusing in the middle part (radio, ac, ect...)

It's this:

vs

HUGE difference


EDIT: Roberto's explanation is way better than mine

Deutsch

I'm going to spend some extra time at the MB stand at the carshow when I go later on in the week, see if I don't find the COMMAND sys easier to use, now that I have some idea of how it works.

a few pics of the first new S on ebaymotors...













I want to like this car.

Hypersonic

Not at all warot - you explanation was concise and clear

The Artist

hmm allright a very fussy word.. but interiors seem fine to me

Hypersonic

.....See James, I do change my mind.

I will eat my words about this as I have grown to quite like the Quattroporte.

Mirage77

That's great, I'll treat you for lunch.

Curb Zone