Understanding Minimalist Architecture

Minimalist architecture in broader terms, is a design practice that prioritizes sparseness and utility. Architects and designers who follow minimalism through their designs, abstain from ornamentation. Condensing the form of any object to its most basic level brings out its true nature and identity.

How did it begin?

The roots of Minimalist architecture can be traced down to ‘Minimalism’. Minimalism as a concept, is associated with some Architectural styles like De Stijl, Bauhaus, Japanese Zen Art & visual art styles such as Cubism, which were prevalent in the early 20^th Century. All these styles had different histories but similar key features- being clean, simple and non-chaotic. It was only after World War II that minimalism as a part of architectural design, started getting admiration.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a German-American architect, also called the pioneer of modern and minimalist architecture once succinctly said, “Less is More”. He was devoted to simplicity and frequently combined functions of seemingly unrelated objects, just to streamline efficiency. His designs were sleek and symmetrical, which serves as the main staples of minimalist design aesthetics.

Principles of Minimalist Architecture

Minimalism in architecture-n-design is based on two basic principles. The first principle is embracing objects’ natural state, which remains unornamented yet pleasing to the eye. The second one revolves around the notion of emptiness and stillness. A busy space always creates chaos in our minds. On the contrary, a large & an open space in tandem with nature, will often introduce one to a state of meditation and tranquility.

Plain blonde wood, Natural stone, steel and Glass are an integral part of this building style. When it comes to colours, white rules here as well. But muted basic hues or pastel shades are good to use too. As a bonus, such colours blend seamlessly with Natural wood.

Characteristics of Minimalist Architecture

Use of geometric shapes, light hues, natural textures & materials, plentiful light sources and utility-based furniture ensures the laying of basic groundwork. To create minimalist spaces, one needs to detest clutter and useless furniture pieces.

Let us get to know these characteristics in detail:

• Form Follows Function: Each element that forms a part of minimalist design provides a certain convenience to the inhabitants. Every furniture item, each lighting fixture or even the components of the building structure itself, they all serve a specific purpose. Those are the bare essentials that the user needs.
• Absence of Ornamentation: Talking of Bare essentials, avoid any form of ornamentation/decoration. Not just the physical commodities inside the house, but even the external facades of minimalist houses use very few materials and a limited colour palette comprising neutrals. The building structure itself is the focal point here.
• Open Plans: Architects while designing minimalist spaces, primarily focus on open plans. Such layouts along with being functional, also bring unity and order. As a benefit, the spaces thus created tend to be flexible and adaptable to multi-purpose usage.
• Natural & Artificial Light: Lighting is the sole ornamentation in minimalist design. So, designers use artificial lights to create a dramatic play of shadows and highlights, in the otherwise unadorned interiors. Lighting should be such that it not only complements the interiors but enhances the aesthetics too. The objective shall be to add visual interest to the space, even in the absence of ornamentation.
• Straight lines & Geometric Forms: Most minimalist buildings have the composition of straight lines, linear forms and simplified angles, both inside and outside of the building. Repetition of these visual patterns lends the building a sense of orderliness and unification. For experimentation, designers also use classic geometric forms.

Be it about borrowing some main structural features or boosting a full minimalist design, the fact cannot be ignored that minimalist architecture continues to inspire architects all around the globe. It still has its influence over architectural trends. Some people revere this architectural style, whereas some perceive it as cold. In the end, it just boils down to personal choices. But all those who are in awe of minimalist design, certainly know that minimalism is not just a design practice, but a way of living too!